Paderborn's return to the Bundesliga after six seasons in the second tier of German football is a significant achievement, especially considering they got the better of Wolfsburg in a tense relegation play-off to become the 18th - and final - side to confirm their Bundesliga spot for the 2026/27 term. The team's promotion was hard-fought, and they impressed throughout their campaign, combining intense football, high work rate and a clear game plan.

Head coach Ralf Kettemann's team boasted the third-best attack in the league, ultimately missing out on the automatic promotion spot (to Elversberg) on goal difference alone. However, with a young squad and key players like Mika Baur and Calvin Brackelmann leaving the club over the summer, they arguably face the toughest task of all three newly promoted clubs to remain in the top flight.

In an attempt to replace what they lost in this window, Paderborn have brought in Gabriel Vidović from Dinamo Zagreb. The 22-year-old is expected to contribute with both goals and assists, after notching a combined 12 in the Croatian top flight last term. He is also no stranger to the German game, having started his career with Bayern Munich, making eight appearances for the senior side and one on loan at Mainz.

Paderborn's first three fixtures in the Bundesliga will be against Mainz (A), Freiburg (H), and Borussia Dortmund (A).