Eintracht Frankfurt 2025/26 season preview: Transfers, pre-season, predicted lineup & predictions | OneFootball

Eintracht Frankfurt returned to the Champions League with an impressive 3rd-place finish in the Bundesliga under Dino Toppmöller, their best league performance since 1993.

Ahead of their Bundesliga opener against Werder Bremen, Frankfurt have already progressed in the DFB-Pokal with a dominant 5-0 win over FV Engers. At the same time, a North American pre-season tour helped integrate new signings.

With Champions League football on the horizon, supporters in Hessen are hopeful of another season fighting at the top end of the Bundesliga.

Pre-season performances

Die Adler's build-up has been steady rather than spectacular, with a win against Louisville City, a draw with Philadelphia Union, and a 1-0 loss and 2-2 draw against Premier League sides Fulham and Aston Villa.

Back in Germany, Eintracht dispatched FV Engers 5-0 in their opening round DFB-Pokal clash. New arrival Ritsu Doan made an immediate impact with two goals across a lively performance, while Jonathan Burkardt also got off the mark after making the move from Mainz this summer.

Transfers

Hugo Ekitike's €95 million move to Liverpool has been one of the biggest moves of the summer thus far after the Frenchman took on the talismanic reins of Omar Marmoush following his switch to Manchester City in January.

Jonathan Burkardt of Mainz is likely to be the man to replace Ekitike, who found the back of the net on his Premier League debut for Liverpool last weekend.

Tuta, Igor Matanovic and Nacho Ferri have also left the club permanently, while Krisztian Lisztes has joined Ferencvaros on loan.

Alongside Burkardt, Ritsu Doan has been the statement signing of the summer, with the Japanese winger joining from Freiburg for a €21 million fee, matching that of Burkardt.

Rasmus Kristensen has joined the club permanently from Leeds after an impressive campaign on loan at Deutsche Bank Park, and young attacking midfielder Love Arrhov has arrived from Swedish outfit Brommapojkarna.

Die Adler are also on the verge of replacing goalkeeper Kevin Trapp with Werder Bremen shot-stopper Michael Zetterer.

Predicted line-up

Toppmöller has generally alternated between a 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 setup, but with Doan secured as a more out-and-out winger, a more attacking setup could be likely.

4-2-3-1: Zetterer - Kristensen, Koch, Theate, Brown - Skhiri, Larsson - Doan, Götze, Bahoya - Burkardt.

Predictions for the upcoming season

Frankfurt enter the new term with both excitement and uncertainty. The departure of Ekitike following that of Marmoush in January has stripped the team of almost 40 Bundesliga goals, but the arrivals of Doan and Burkardt ensure that there is still attacking quality in the squad.

Strength lies in the midfield, where Ellyes Skhiri, Hugo Larsson and Mario Götze provide balance between industry and creativity, while Robin Koch has stepped into the captain's role as the defensive leader.

Frankfurt remain well-positioned to remain a top-six Bundesliga side, with the quality to return to the Champions League once again if Burkardt settles quickly, and Doan integrates smoothly.

A finish between fourth and sixth seems the most realistic outcome, while a run into the Champions League knockout rounds would be seen as a major success.