Today, Borussia Monchengladbach have announced the signings of two new players. Firstly, William Carvalho has joined from Sporting Lisbon. The fee is said to be around £800k, which is seen as a bargain by many in the footballing world, as clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester United were queueing up to sign the Portugal Under 21 international.

Carvalho, who can dictate play from in front of the back four, can also cover at centre back. Ability in the air, strength and fitness levels are all regarded as Carvalho's main assets, and these will certainly help the Gladbach team. The 22 year old, who spent two seasons on loan at Cercle Brugge earlier in his career, had this to say.

"I can't believe that I have been given the opportunity to join a club like Gladbach. I know that plenty of clubs were after me, but I really agree with the setup and plans here at the club, and I feel that they match my ambitions as a player. I hope to one day become a legend at the club, and help push the club towards glory."

Gladbach have also completed the signing of 21 year old Goalkeeper Timo Horn from Koln. The fee is reported to be around £3.8M, after his release clause was broken, and Gladbach fought of opposition in Wolfsburg and Hamburg for the signature of the coveted shot-stopper.

Compared to Manuel Neuer, Horn has excellent distribution and has made some top saves across the past 2 seasons, where he has played in the Bundesliga 2. With bags of potential, Horn will one day be replacing Neuer in goal for Germany. He adds some much needed competition for other newcomer Yann Sommer, after Marc-Andre Ter Stegen left for Barcelona.

'Building for the future' indeed. These guys have great potential and they can also fit straight into your first 11. Keep up the great updates

ARSENAL_ruleZ: Cheers mate, I'm hoping that is what will happen.

Gladbach's pre-season got off the a good start with a surprising and gutsy draw against oil-rich Monaco. It took 20 mins for Patrick Hermann (above) to break the deadlock, after he capitalised on a misjudged clearance kick from Balanta, before firing into the corner. Only four minutes later though, Carrasco was slipped through, before he slid the ball past keeper Timo Horn. Shortly before half-time, Dominguez volleyed Gladbach ahead at the break after a mixup in the Monaco box after a corner. Gladbach played well, until Berbatov scored from nothing, when a ball hit Balanta's knee and bounced to him. Berbatov did the rest.




Gladbach produced a shock result in North London to secure victory over a lacklustre Arsenal side. Giroud opened the scoring when he tapped in Podolski's cross. Gladbach replied positively, and when Hahn was barged by Djourou, Kruse stepped up to score the penalty in the 28th minute. After 50 minutes, Hahn's poor cross bounced past everyone and landed at the feet of Kruse, who placed it high and into the roof of the net from 4 yards out. Only 15 minutes later did Kruse have his hat-trick, and after Raffael broke down the line, his cross met Kruse (above), he took a touch and turned, hitting it into the top corner. When Theo Walcott scored a fantastic chip, the last 10 minutes were to be nervy for Gladbach, but they held on.




A poor performance from Gladbach led to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Lorient. Two quick fire goals, three minutes apart, from Simao and Autret left Gladbach dead after 13 minutes. A placed finish from Max Kruse (above) on the hour mark from the edge of the area was the only positive.




A much stronger performance than the previous match, Gladbach were behind after 6 minutes, when James Milner's deflected cross looped up and over keeper Yann Sommer. However, man of the match Amin Younes got us back into the match, when he shot was saved and rolled along the line, before he poked it over. Gladbach held out for another 40 minutes, before David Silva cut in of the right and curled a left-footed strike past the helpless Sommer. With time running out, Ibrahima Traore provided a fantastic assist, with a winding run down the line, before his cross met Amin Younes' head (above) who scored. The game was not over though, and City hit the woodwork 7 times in the last ten minutes, before Thorgan Hazard fluffed a sitter wide in the dying seconds.

Borrusia Monchengladbach have continued to spend money and sign players, as England Under 21 international Will Hughes joins from Championship side Derby. Hughes, who can play anywhere in midfield, is seen as one of England's top prospects.

The 19 year old is known for his creativity, as well as his general skills. Hughes, who's favourite player is Steven Gerrard, has declared that he wants to become a major part of the club's plans, and said that he would also like to be playing at a higher level of football, which he now has. Hughes could well be in line for his first start in the DFB Pokal, while he will also be hoping for an England call up.

Meanwhile, leaving the club is Brazilian striker and Number 10 Raffael. Raffael, who joined from Schalke last season, had a good debut season, but was not seen as part of Favre's plans. He has returned to Schalke for £8M, leaving Gladbach with a £4M profit from one season. This however, leaves a clear lack of quality up front, with only Max Kruse being seen as an out-and-out striker.



Strengthening the squad further, Nicola Murru joins from Cagliari for £4.6M. The Italy Under 21 international is seen as a bargain.

"I am delighted to have signed for Gladbach. The setup is brilliant, and the staff and players have been really welcoming. I would like to help propel the club into the Champions League, and hopefully I can grow as a footballer as the club grows. Lucien Favre has been excellent so far, and he has a real mind for the game. His philosophy is excellent."

Murru, who plays normally on the left of defence, can also cover at right back competently.

Great signings there. All have great potential to become a star for the future KUTGW!

Scottzer: Thanks a lot mate!

I'm glad both of my recommendations worked out for you. I hope they perform as well.

Oz96: I know, thanks a lot mate .

Borussia Monchengladbach have completed the signings of two more players to cover up the hole left behind by the departure of Raffael. Firstly, Antonio Di Natale has joined from Udinese for £2.5M. The 36 year old, known for his incredible skill and technique welcomed the chance to play for Gladbach. He will most likely start alongside Kruse, although Di Natale can also cover and play on the wings or behind the striker.

Di Natale, who played 297 times for Udinese and scored 157 goals, also has made 42 international caps, scoring on 11 occasions.



Brazilian striker Nilmar, formerly of Villareal and Lyon, has joined Gladbach on a free transfer. This comes after his contract with Qatari side Al-Jaish ran out. Gladbach fought off opposition from clubs such as Everton and Hamburg for the 30 year old's signature.

Nilmar, who has made 20 Brazil caps and scored nine times, is known for his pace and dribbling, and seems to be the perfect match for the position Favre wants to play him in.

Borussia Monchengladbach have announced a deal with Atletico Madrid, last season's Liga BBVA winners, for the sale of Max Kruse. The fee is thought to be £19M. After having a brilliant debut season, where Kruse scored 12 and assisted 12, Kruse is being moved on. Kruse scored in Gladbach's first game of the new season.

After joining at the beginning of last season for just £2.1M, Kruse impressed for Gladbach, and made his Germany debut as a substitute (above). He will join an Atletico Madrid team that are trying to fill the hole left by Diego Costa, who left for Chelsea earlier this summer.



The move also raises questions about Gladbach's squad. Although the club announced they signed Antonio Di Natale and Nilmar to help support Kruse and make up the numbers up front, they have let another striker go. Gladbach will now surely have to be in the market for a new striker. Kevin Volland is rumoured to be available, after it was discoverd that a £12.75M release clause was inserted into his contract, while Javier Hernandez may join on loan from Manchester United.

Gladbach will face Hannover at home in their next match.

Unluckt on Kruse but you can do a lot with £19m. Great update

ARSENAL_ruleZ: Thanks mate, it is quite a lot of money.

Borussia Monchengladbach have today announced the signing of Hoffenheim striker Kevin Volland. Volland, who is rated as a top prospect throughout Europe, and has attracted the attention of many top clubs in the last few years, signed for £12.75M.

"I can't believe that I have the opportunity to play for Gladbach and to work with Lucien Favre. He is a great coach and a great guy. The system at the club is brilliant, and it is probably better than that at Bayern Munich. I'm just glad that I have been signed. I will look back on my Hoffenheim years with great affection, as they made me as a player."

The £12.75M fee, all up front and funded by the sale of Max Kruse to Atletico Madrid for £19M, activated the release clause in the German international's contract. Known for his speed and finishing, Volland will fit perfectly into the team at Gladbach.

Volland started his career at 1860 Munich, where he grew up and the club he supported as a boy. He then signed for Hoffenheim for £550k at the age of 17. He then spent two more years on loan at 1860, where he scored 19 in 50 appearances. Since then, Volland has been a regular at Hoffenheim. His Germany Under 21 record speaks for itself, with 19 goals in 18 games.

Borussia Monchengladbach began there season in style, after remaining unbeaten throughout the first month of the season. With the DFB Pokal, Bundesliga and Europe League all beginning, Gladbach had to knuckle down fast.



The season began with a 4-0 victory over minnows Idar-Oberstein. Balanta scored two headers of corners, while Amin Younes impressed for the Foals. Max Kruse also scored, before his departure. It could have been more as well, as Hahn hit the woodwork 4 times in as many minutes.

Following this, Gladbach began their Bundesliga season away at Stuttgart. After a really poor performance, Max Kruse nicked an undeserved draw in the dying minutes. His shot, powered over the keeper's head, after being played through by Xhaka.

Then Hannover visited the fortress that is Borussia Park. Having to deal with the loss of Max Kruse, Antonio Di Natale was given his first start. Amin Younes scored early on after a brilliant run, before Di Natale opened his gladbach account with a fabulous free-kick. Shortly afterwards, Balanta rose of a corner to power a header past the keeper.

Next, it was the turn of Swiss team Vaduz in the Europa League qualifying rounds. After taking a shock lead early on, Gladbach composed themselves, and a header from Tony Jantschke got them back in the game. Shortly afterwards, Kevin Volland, on his debut, received a ball over the top from Will Hughes. Volland proceeded to expertly take the ball round the keeper and tap it into an empty net.

The Foals then travelled to Wolfsburg, where Amin Younes gave Gladbach the lead with another fantastic strike, dribbling across the box and past 4 players before slotting home. However, Olic pulled one back with a tap in on 50 minutes, and the game slowly died out.

Gladbach then faced a trip to Liechtenstein, where Volland scored twice. The first came from a Di Natale cross, which Volland flicked into the far corner on the volley, before Di Natale again assisted, this time sliding a ball through for Volland to knock past the keeper. Vaduz scored late on after a short back pass, but Gladbach go through on aggregate.

Then came probably the biggest games of the season. Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola's superstars visited Borussia Park. It started well for Gladbach, dominating possession against Pep's tika-taka. And it paid of when, on 33 minutes, Hughes played a ball towards goal. Volland took the ball past one before powering it into the far top corner. In the second half, Bayern were rampant. Gotze hit the post of a free kick, Badstuber of a corner, Muller of a cross and Robben from two yards. However, Gladbach would have the last laugh, when Granit Xhaka chased a back pass, before slide tackling it past the helpless Manuel Neuer. And the Foals weren't done yet, with Volland scoring another after a rare mistake from Neuer.


Schalke (A) - 12/9/14
Viktoria Plzen (A) - 18/9/14
Bochum (H) - 21/9/14
Aalen (A) - 24/9/14
Dusseldorf (A) - 27/9/14