The 2026-27 German Bundesliga is two weeks from kicking off and several American players will be eager to leave their mark this season.
Malik Tillman to Joe Scally are among the more experienced players in the German top-flight and both will be pushing to help their clubs compete for silverware and European places.
In addition to veteran players, there will be ample young players looking to deliver a breakout season such as Borussia Dortmund’s Mathis Albert and Elversberg’s Cole Campbell.
Noahkai Banks is back for his second full season with Augsburg’s first team while Lennard Maloney will try to play a consistent role in the Mainz squad. Timothy Chandler remains a veteran presence in the Eintracht Frankfurt squad as he signed back for another year.
Here is a closer look at the American players in the German Bundesliga this season:
Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen
Fresh off an impactful FIFA World Cup with the USMNT, Malik Tillman looks set for a productive season.
Tillman is heading into his second campaign with Bayer Leverkusen after making the jump from PSV last summer. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder showed glimpses with Leverkusen scoring eight goals, but never really got into a major groove.
After finishing as one of the USMNT’s top performers on home soil, Tillman should see his production rise this campaign.
Joe Scally, Borussia Moenchengladbach
Heading into the final year of his Borussia Moenchengladbach contract, there will be plenty of eyes on Joe Scally.
The 23-year-old full back is nearing 200 appearances for the German club after delivering another positive campaign last season. Scally has logged 30 or more appearances in all five of his seasons with the first team, becoming a key presence both on and off the field.
Whether or not Scally stays with the club this season remains to be seen, but if he doesn’t, expect there to be plenty of interest in his services.
Noahkai Banks, Augsburg
Things are continuing to trend upward for 19-year-old Noahkai Banks.
Banks saw his production rise during the 2025-26 season, logging one goal and one assist in 23 appearances for Augsburg. Despite only starting two matches over the final three months of the season, Banks remains a top prospect at Augsburg and could very well force his way into the USMNT mix this fall.
Should he play a larger role this season, expect Banks’ name to garner more and more interest from Europe’s best.
Cole Campbell, Elversberg
Limited playing time at both Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim forced Cole Campbell to seek a move elsewhere and now he looks settled at Elversberg to make an impact.
Campbell joined the newly-promoted club from Borussia Dortmund this summer, signing a multi-year deal. The 20-year-old made just six first-team appearances over the last campaign, while also bouncing between the second teams as well.
Elversberg will be seeking for Campbell to hit the ground running and he will aim for a fast start in new colors.
Mathis Albert, Borussia Dortmund
There are several young players that Borussia Dortmund fans are excited to see and Mathis Albert is surely one of them.
Albert, 17, made his first-team debut last season and has since worked in Niko Kovac’s squad during preseason. The U.S. Youth National Team talent has continued to work his way through the Dortmund ranks, featuring for the Under-17’s, Under-19’s, and second-team.
After already getting a small taste of the Bundesliga last season, Albert could see an increased role this time around.
Lennard Maloney, Mainz
Veteran midfielder Lennard Maloney remains vital to the Mainz plans this season.
The 26-year-old is heading into his second full season with the club after joining from Hoffenheim back in 2025. Maloney made 32 appearances across multiple competitions last campaign, mainly serving as an important defensive option off the bench.
Maloney will hope for more playing time this season as Mainz aims to finish in the top-half.
Timmy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt
The playing time has dipped for veteran defender/midfielder Timmy Chandler, but his presence for Eintracht Frankfurt remains key.
Chandler featured just once last season and only four times in total over the last two seasons combined. The 36-year-old signed another one-year contract this offseason as he continues to prepare for life off of the football pitch.
Who are you most excited to watch this season in the Bundesliga? Do you expect to see any of these Americans involved in the title race?
Share your thoughts below.
Source: Sbisoccer.com
