FC Bayern have started the 2025/26 season with one of the smallest squads in years – and despite impressive results, discussions about possible winter transfers continue. After the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal and two tough performances in the league and cup, calls to add personnel in January have grown louder. But sporting director Christoph Freund is clearly putting the brakes on expectations and pointing to another „transfer trio“ who will soon be back
In sporting terms, almost everything is going according to plan at FC Bayern. Unchallenged leaders in the Bundesliga, excellent prospects of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League and the first DFB Cup in years – Vincent Kompany’s record speaks for itself. And this despite the fact that many experts doubted in the summer that the small squad would be able to cope with three competitions
However, recent weeks have shown that even a functioning system can reach its limits. The narrow cup victory in Berlin and the laborious home win against St. Pauli gave the impression that the heavy workload was sapping the team’s strength. In attack, the team lacked the penetrating power of the early season at times, while Kompany’s side conceded an unusual number of goals in defence – particularly from set-pieces
The defeat against Arsenal in particular reignited the debate: does the record champions urgently need reinforcements in the winter?
Freund rules out winter transfers – „We are very satisfied“
At the press conference on Friday, sporting director Christoph Freund responded with a clear message: despite the increased pressure and public calls for new signings, FC Bayern are not planning to restructure their squad in January. „We have often said that we are actually very happy with our squad,“ emphasized the Austrian
Freund is thus putting a clear stop to possible expectations of an active winter transfer window. Instead, he points to an internal solution which, from the point of view of those responsible, is just as valuable as real new additions
The reason for Munich’s serenity lies in three players returning to the squad after months of injury: Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and Hiroki Ito. Freund puts it impressively: „With Davies, Ito and Musiala, three players are coming back who are like new arrivals. We were very careful with the boys in the autumn because we knew that the squad was a little thinner. We are now looking forward to the three of them and will then be very well positioned.“
These additions will indeed change the squad situation noticeably. Davies is about to make his comeback, Musiala is set to return to team training before Christmas and Ito has already earned his first minutes of action. Each of the three would immediately add depth, pace and quality to the team
A risk – but one that Bayern is consciously taking
The decision against winter transfers is both a vote of confidence in Kompany’s squad and an expression of long-term planning. FC Bayern are consciously taking the risk of tackling the season without additional reinforcements – in the belief that the returnees will provide the crucial stability
Whether this approach will pay off will become clear in the spring at the latest. One thing is certain: there will be no spectacular new additions at Säbener Straße in January. Instead, the record champions are expecting three comebacks, which should make the squad broader, more varied and more dangerous in one fell swoop.