Germany’s new chapter is taking shape beneath an autumn international sky, with Jürgen Klopp beginning his reign by splitting a three-week Nations League window into two distinct squads.
Jürgen Klopp names two Germany squads for Nations League start
SEO Title: Jürgen Klopp unveils two Germany squads for Nations League window
SEO Description: New Germany coach Jürgen Klopp has selected separate groups for four Nations League fixtures, retaining Joshua Kimmich as captain and naming Marc-André ter Stegen as his first-choice goalkeeper.
Klopp, who took charge after the 2026 World Cup, announced an unusual 44-player call-up on Thursday for four matches between late September and early October. His first selection comes as Zinédine Zidane prepares for his own first international camp as France coach, with Zidane due to reveal his first Les Bleus squad on Friday at 18:00.
A split squad for four matches
- Germany will first travel to Amsterdam to play the Netherlands on 24 September.
- Klopp’s opening group will then face Greece in Augsburg on 27 September.
- The second group will take over for the Serbia match in Munich on 1 October.
- Germany will conclude the window away to Greece in Thessaloniki on 4 October.
- The two groups will overlap on 27 September as Klopp attempts to assess as many players as possible during the extended camp.
“I enjoyed putting this squad together. We found plenty of talent, and I want to get to know as many players as I can,” Klopp said while wearing a Germany cap carrying the message: “One of 83 million.”
The former Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager had also worked as Red Bull’s global head of football after leaving Anfield. He now inherits a Germany side knocked out by Paraguay in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Ter Stegen takes the No. 1 role, Kimmich remains captain
Klopp confirmed 34-year-old Marc-André ter Stegen, now at Ajax, as his leading goalkeeper. Joshua Kimmich, 31, will continue as Germany captain but will return to midfield, his role at Bayern Munich.
Under previous coach Julian Nagelsmann, Kimmich had been used at right-back during both Euro 2024 on home soil and the 2026 World Cup.
“A team needs stability and a spine,” Klopp said. “Once that spine is secure, you can become creative and a little crazy.”
There are 16 first-time call-ups across Klopp’s two selections. Freiburg provide four players after reaching last season’s Europa League final and moving top of the Bundesliga after three rounds.
Squad for Netherlands and Greece in Augsburg
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nübel (Besiktas), Marc-André ter Stegen (Ajax) |
| Defenders | Hennes Behrens (Augsburg), Yann-Aurel Bisseck (Inter Milan), Nathaniel Brown (Bayern Munich), Max Rosenfelder (Freiburg), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Philipp Treu (Freiburg), Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart) |
| Midfielders | Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Bambasé Conté (Hoffenheim), Yannik Engelhardt (Freiburg), Chris Führich (Stuttgart), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Schade (Brentford), Anton Stach (Leeds United) |
| Forwards | Younes Ebnoutalib (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kai Havertz (Arsenal) |
Squad for Serbia and Greece in Thessaloniki
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Noah Atubolu (Eintracht Frankfurt), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Jonas Urbig (Bayern Munich) |
| Defenders | Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Ridle Baku (RB Leipzig), Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle) |
| Midfielders | Karim Adeyemi (Barcelona), Mika Baur (Celtic), Tom Bischof (Bayern Munich), Saïd El Mala (Cologne), Brajan Gruda (RB Leipzig), Vitaly Janelt (Brentford), Felix Keidel (Elversberg), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Derry Scherhant (Freiburg), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) |
| Forwards | Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt), Nick Woltemade (Juventus) |
