Union Berlin 2025/26 season preview: Transfers, pre-season, predicted lineup & predictions

Heading into their seventh successive season in Bundesliga, Union Berlin are seeking to get back to a top-half finish. After impressive showings in all three European competitions, the capital city club recorded its worst two top-flight campaigns.

The aim will be to get back on track this term. While there are movements in the stadium redevelopment process, the team should massively improve from the recent trend both in terms of results and playing style.

How was their 2024/25?

Initially, Bo Svensson seemed the perfect coach for Union Berlin. Having started the campaign with a draw away at his former club Mainz, Svensson managed to win his first three games at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. That run includes Union maintaining their impressive home record in games against Borussia Dortmund.

However, that was their last home win under Svensson. After five successive defeats and a Pokal exit by the then-unfancied Arminia Bielefeld, he was relieved of his duty during the Winterpause. At the same time, Steffen Baumgart was failing to meet expectations at Hamburger SV, but he got another shot in the Bundesliga thanks to his beloved club.

Defeats against direct rivals Heidenheim and Augsburg raised doubts about the decision, but Baumgart's team finished the season on a much better form. The reverse fixture against Heidenheim was the only one they lost from the last ten games of the season. Including a record-breaking 4-4 draw against Stuttgart, five of those games were against teams who will play continental football next season.

The Coach

Svensson’s passion and what he achieved with Mainz were a perfect match for Union … for a bit. However, they still went with a comparable figure for his replacement in Baumgart. The 53-year-old is one of the most liked coaches in recent Bundesliga history.

And, he has a special connection with the club. He played in Bundesliga for nine years, but the couple of seasons he spent with Union Berlin in 2. Bundesliga was among the highlights of his playing career. A fan favorite as a player, he’ll now hope to rekindle Urs Fischer’s fairytale stories. 

Transfers

For the 25-year-old attacking duo Andrej Ilic and Woo-yeong Jeong, Union spent €9 million to turn loan deals into permanent signings. The former was instrumental in their improvement at the end of the season, while the South Korean international is a Bundesliga veteran who made his debut in 2019 for none other than Bayern Munich.

There are two more additions for the final third with the signings of Ilyas Ansah and Oliver Burke. The 20-year-old striker had a breakthrough season with Paderborn in 2. Bundesliga. On the other hand, Burke’s arrival on a free transfer was wrapped up days after the end of the 2024/25 season.

The Scotsman had a hot-and-cold spell with Werder Bremen, but they expect more consistency from him to replace Benedict Hollerbach. Union received a €10 million transfer fee from Mainz for the services of their top-scorer from last season.

At the other end of the pitch, they’re gearing towards keeping Danilho Doekhi and Diogo Leite. Stanley Nsoki, whose current stock is nowhere near that of those two center-backs, joined on an initial loan deal from TSG Hoffenheim to replace Kevin Vogt.

Pre-season preparations

Following three successive 1-0 defeats, Union Berlin will close their preseason schedule against Greece Super League champions Olympiacos. Burke and Ansah opened their goal-scoring accounts earlier in the preseason, while 17-year-old Palestinian winger Suheib-Elias Ali has been a revelation.

Predicted XI

Rönnow; Leite, Doekhi, Querfeld; Juranovic, Khedira, Schäfer, Rothe; Ilic, Ansah, Skarke

The 38-year-old exemplary captain Christopher Trimmel extended his contract by another year, and he’s still an option for regular minutes. If he stays at the club, Alex Král could also push to win back his place after a solid preseason. Baumgart preferred 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 during the successful end of the season last term.

Fixture summary

There is no time for hiding. Union will start their Bundesliga campaign at home against the reigning Pokal champions Stuttgart, before traveling to Dortmund on matchday 2. In the last round of 2025, Baumgart will return to RheinEnergieSTADION for the game against Köln. If there is no playoff incoming, Union will end the season with a trip to Mainz and a home fixture against Augsburg.

Expectations & Prediction

All things considered, Union will probably be involved in the relegation fight. At least in terms of results and team building (apart from nearly signing Isco in 2023), they hardly capitalize on the European adventures. While Hertha Berlin are building a team thinking of a Bundesliga return, their fierce rivals are only thinking about safety.