Bundesliga loan roundup | Union Berlin, Stuttgart, and Leverkusen youngsters secure moves
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Three Bundesliga clubs have confirmed outgoing developmental loans at the conclusion of the summer transfer window, with Union Berlin’s Oluwaseun Ogbemudia returning to Waldhof Mannheim, Stuttgart youngster Mirza Catović heading to Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeanuel Belocian moving to Racing Santander.
Ogbemudia returns to Waldhof Mannheim
Union Berlin have sent highly-rated young centre-back Oluwaseun Ogbemudia back to 3. Liga side Waldhof Mannheim on loan for the 2026/27 campaign. The 20-year-old already spent the second half of last season in Mannheim and established himself as an important performer. Union and Waldhof have now agreed to extend that developmental arrangement for another full season.
The four-times-capped German youth international returns to familiar surroundings at a club where regular senior minutes should remain available.
As detailed in Get German Football News’s 2026/27 Union Berlin tactical preview, first-team opportunities in Köpenick remained difficult to forecast amid Union’s established defensive options. Another season of consistent 3. Liga football therefore offers Ogbemudia a clearer route to continued development.
Stuttgart extend Catović before Barcelona loan
VfB Stuttgart have taken a different approach with 19-year-old Mirza Catović. The midfielder has extended his existing Stuttgart contract by one year through June 2029 before joining FC Barcelona’s second team on a season-long loan. Stuttgart thus retain long-term control over the youngster while allowing him to continue his development in one of European football’s most prominent academy environments.
VfB Board Member for Sport Fabian Wohlgemuth said the objective is for Catović to “gain further experience” during his year in Catalonia.
The move also makes sense within the context of Stuttgart’s exceptionally deep senior squad.
Get German Football News’s 2026/27 Stuttgart tactical preview highlighted the abundance of options available to Sebastian Hoeneß throughout the centre of the pitch. With Stuttgart competing at the upper end of the Bundesliga and returning to Champions League football, Catović’s immediate route to regular first-team minutes remained narrow.
The Barcelona loan now supplies him with a significantly different developmental challenge without weakening Stuttgart’s contractual position.
Leverkusen send Belocian to Racing Santander
Bayer Leverkusen have meanwhile confirmed that Jeanuel Belocian will spend the season on loan with Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender, recently returned from a Wolfsburg loan, moves without a reported purchase option and remains firmly part of Leverkusen’s longer-term plans.
Competition for defensive minutes had become particularly fierce following another summer of heavy personnel turnover at the BayArena.
Belocian nevertheless featured regularly during preseason. As noted in Get German Football News’s 2026/27 Bayer Leverkusen tactical preview, the Frenchman scored in the 4-0 friendly victory over Genk and received opportunities under new head coach Carles Martínez as Leverkusen experimented with several defensive combinations.
The increasingly crowded squad nevertheless made consistent competitive minutes difficult to guarantee.
Leverkusen sporting managing director Simon Rolfes made clear that the loan should not be interpreted as the club moving on from Belocian.
“Upon his return next year, he will be a promising candidate for our Werkself,” Rolfes said.
GGFN | Peter Weis
