Hertha Berlin have signed Turkish midfielder Yunus Ünal. At the same time, Lukas Michelbrink has left the second-division club after his loan deal expired.
The acquisition of Ünal is the first official new signing of the summer for the Berlin side. The 22-year-old joins on a free transfer and has signed a contract until 30 June 2029. He will wear the number 17 shirt. Michelbrink, meanwhile, returns to his parent club after making only sporadic appearances last season.
Yunus Ünal will be deployed as an attacking midfielder or on the wings. His strengths lie in his pace and direct play . So far this season, Hertha Berlin have taken seven points from the first three matches of the 2. Bundesliga, placing them fourth in the standings. The squad is broadly balanced, but there have recently been injury concerns in the attacking midfield areas.
With the signing of Ünal, manager Pal Dardai gains another option for the wide positions. The Turkish player can operate on either the left or right flank. His style of play fits well with Dardai's preference for quick transitions and vertical passes. The exact lineup for the next match can be viewed on our squad page.
Lukas Michelbrink leaves Hertha Berlin after a disappointing loan spell. The 24-year-old midfielder was named in the starting lineup only six times last season, scoring one goal. His average playing time per appearance was under 45 minutes. His contract at Hertha was a loan deal without an option to buy, so his return to his parent club is now confirmed.
This departure creates space in the squad and potentially in the wage structure for further reinforcements. Michelbrink was originally brought in as a promising talent but failed to meet expectations. His exit will not significantly alter the competition in defensive midfield, where other players like Marton Dárdai and Jonjoe Kenny are established.
The transfer of Yunus Ünal marks the beginning of Hertha Berlin's transfer activity this summer. The club aims to strengthen the squad strategically to push for immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga. So far, there have been no other official incomings or outgoings. The transfer period remains open for several more weeks.
The sporting leadership, led by Benjamin Weber, continues to work on bolstering the team. A focus may be on the defensive line, after conceding five goals in the first three league games. Detailed team statistics are available on our stats page. The club's financial capabilities are limited following relegation, meaning free transfers or loans with options to buy are a priority.
The next opportunity to see the new signing in action is the home match against 1. FC Nürnberg on 13 September 2026. Yunus Ünal is expected to be in the squad and could make his 2. Bundesliga debut.
