After a disastrous 2013/14 season which almost saw the side relegated for the first time ever, a squad overhaul was at the top of Hamburg sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer's list. The departure of Hakan Calhanoglu to Leverkusen at the start of the summer further increased the importance of bringing in new faces.
Tottenham Hotspurs Lewis Holtby signed for the club on an initial one year loan deal today and it is alleged there is an option to buy at the end of the loan period. Holtby returns to the Bundesliga after a two year hiatus following his move from Schalke to Spurs two summers ago. The German number ten's wealth of experience in the league will undoubtedly come in handy throughout the rest of the season.
Julian Green also joins the Imtech arena outfit on a year long loan but from Bayern Munich instead of Spurs. The American has already been allocated the number 37 shirt, the same number he wore for Bayern last term as he broke through. Green should play an important role outwide and could prove a valuable asset. It is likely that HSV will adapt to a 4-3-3 formation with Green on one side and fellow summer arrival Nicolai Muller on the other while Lasogga lays down the middle.
Now, onto departures; 17 year old centre back Jonathan Tah joined 2. Liga side Fortuna Dusseldorf on a one year loan deal. A move justified by the academy products wish for more first team football. Tah is highly regarded as one of the next big things for Germany in the defensive department and a loan move should see him improve tenfold.
Kerem Demirbay joins the aforementioned Tah on loan in the 2. Liga and will move to FC Kaiserslautern. The 21 year old midfielder's move comes as a surprise, as he had been a regular feature in Mirko Slomka's pre-season sides, but the coach has seemingly thought a loan would be more beneficial.
Milan Badelj has left the club on a permanent basis and has joined Serie A side Fiorentina in a deal worth €4 million. The midfielder found himself in a similar situation to the above Demirbay and being one of the clubs higher earners a move away only seemed right for both parties.
Finally, Hamburg waved goodbye to Norwegian Per Ciljan Skjelbred who joined Hertha BSC permanently after a successful loan spell last season.