News

The new season in the Table Tennis Bundesliga begins in mid-August. During the summer break, most clubs made changes to their rosters in various positions—some more, some less. This has also brought a breath of fresh air to Germany’s top division: A dozen players with no prior TTBL experience are now part of the expanded starting lineups of the twelve first-division clubs.

Twelve players from eight countries across three continents: These newcomers will make the TTBL even more diverse in the coming season than it has been so far. Finn Luu (TTC OE Clarity Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg)—the first Australian in the TTBL—and Ukrainian teenager Volodymyr Nevizhyn (TSV Bad Königshofen) are sure to add further diversity to Germany’s top division.

Wim Verdonschot of Borussia Dortmund is likely to be in the spotlight this upcoming season, and not just because of his roots. The 21-year-old, ranked 60th in the world (as of July 20) and considered one of the most promising prospects in German men’s table tennis, returned to the Westphalian club this summer after two years with second-division side SV Union Velbert and is looking forward to his debut season in the top flight with great ambition: “Now,” said the multiple WTT Feeder winner in an interview with Dortmund’s member magazine BORUSSIA, “now is when it will be decided whether I really have what it takes to become really, really good one day. I’m going to give it my all.”

Verdonschot is one of three TTBL rookies ranked in the world’s top 70. Alongside the U21 European silver medalist, Luu (No. 45) and Kazuki Hamada—the Japanese player who will also be serving for Bad Homburg starting in the second half of the season—are on the verge of joining the world’s elite.

Other promising newcomers are hoping to take further steps forward. Albert Vilardell, in particular, will have to get used to the fierce competition at the top right away following his move from second-division club FSV Mainz 05 to triple champion 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT. “I chose Saarbrücken because I see great opportunities to further develop my game and significantly improve my athletic performance,” the Spaniard said during his introduction.

Another Spaniard, Daniel Berzosa, left Mainz to join last year’s double champion, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen. “My personal goal is to mature as a player—especially to consistently perform well under pressure. I want to learn from every experience in the top division. On the athletic side, it’s about consciously navigating the different phases of a long season and not losing sight of the development process,” the 20-year-old said, describing his expectations.

Darius Movileanu is also set to begin his first year with the 2025 double champions. The former U19 European champion from Romania comes from the French second-division club Saint-Denis TT93 and reached the European Championship final with Romania’s national team a year ago. “I want to gain valuable experience at the highest level through these matches and continue to develop both technically and mentally. In addition, I want to continue climbing the world rankings, deliver strong performances on the international stage, and establish myself as a reliable player in the Bundesliga,” the left-hander explained upon signing his contract.

Movileanu’s compatriot Andrej Istrate is looking forward to making his TTBL debut with TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell. “He is one of the most promising young European players; he is young and hungry for success, and as a strong right-hander, he’s a valuable addition, especially in doubles,” said Fulda’s head coach Qing Yu Meng about the 2025 U21 European Doubles Champion.

Of course, several TTBL clubs are once again turning to Asian professionals to bolster their rosters. Post SV Mühlhausen promoted Yeh Yi-En, a Taiwanese player not ranked in the world rankings, from its third-division reserve team to the first-division squad coached by Erik Schreyer. Yeh’s compatriot, Hsu Hsien-Chia, rounds out Fulda’s roster. At ASC Grünwettersbach, Chinese player Chang Tao-Yu—signed from Spanish Champions League participant CS Priego—is expected to provide more consistency than the departed two-time world champion Hiroto Shinozuka did recently. Another Chinese import is Liang Yanning at TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau.

Florian Manzke