Hertha Berlin leads the 2. Bundesliga with 18 points after six matchdays, a success also built on the contributions of their four summer signings. Despite 16 departures, Oluwaseun Adewumi, Mads Pedersen, Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and Gustaf Nilsson have strengthened coach Stefan Leitl's squad and made early impressions.

Adewumi and Pedersen impress

21-year-old Oluwaseun Adewumi, who joined from Burnley, has impressed with his speed and eye for goal. The two-footed player, who can operate as a number ten, hanging striker or on the wing, has already scored three counter-attacking goals for Hertha. Mads Pedersen, 30, brought 115 Bundesliga appearances' worth of experience from FC Augsburg. He fulfills a dual role on the left, helping defensively and has provided two assists already. He also acts as a mentor to 17-year-old youth talent Mayson Grothe.

Alfa-Ruprecht off the mark

Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, 20, moved from Bayer Leverkusen to the capital. Coach Leitl called him a 'huge talent'. The winger, who was the league's fastest player last season at 36.42 km/h, scored his first Hertha goal as a substitute in the 3-1 win at Osnabrück. "He gives the team creativity and a lot of pace," Leitl said. The young attacker needs to work on his passing accuracy and composure in front of goal, according to the assessment.

Nilsson sidelined by injury

29-year-old Gustaf Nilsson, a target man type desired by Leitl from Club Brugge, had a bumpy start with two big missed chances against Osnabrück and Dresden. "I'm happy that Gustaf is here and that he had his first minutes," the 49-year-old coach said. The Swede, strong in the air and good at link-up play, then suffered a thigh injury and is currently unavailable.

The team's recent form is solid with three wins, one draw and one defeat from the last five matches. The latest 2-1 away win in Dresden on September 19th, where Jón Dagur Þórsteinsson scored both goals, cemented their place at the top. Ahead of the next matchday, where Hertha plays at Hertha Zehlendorf on September 29th, the team can rely on a broad attack featuring top scorer Josip Brekalo (4 goals). The next task for the newcomers is to maintain their high level of performance as the team defends its position at the top of the standings. Check the full squad list for more details on the team's composition.

This story first appeared at Bild Sport