The Bundesliga has sealed its most significant Japanese media rights deal in nearly a decade, signing an exclusive three-year partnership with DAZN Japan that will bring every match of Germany’s top football league to fans across the country from the 2025–26 season through 2027–28.
Under the agreement, DAZN Japan will stream all nine fixtures from each of the Bundesliga’s 34 matchdays, along with the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Coverage kicks off on August 16, 2025, with the Supercup clash between DFB-Pokal winners VfB Stuttgart and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. The regular season opens on August 22, when Bayern Munich face RB Leipzig.
The deal marks the Bundesliga’s return to DAZN Japan after an eight-year absence and arrives at a time of unprecedented Japanese presence in German football. Ten Japanese players joined Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs during the summer 2025 transfer window alone. Notable names include Hiroki Itō at Bayern Munich, Ritsu Dōan at Eintracht Frankfurt, Yuito Suzuki at SC Freiburg, and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s trio of Koki Machida, Shuto Machino, and Ko Itakura.
Commenting on the occasion, Peer Naubert, Chief Executive Officer of Bundesliga International, said, “The Bundesliga has a long and proud history of Japanese players making their mark, and our club’s commitment to developing talent from the region has helped us build a loyal and passionate fanbase in Japan.
“A total of ten Japanese players have transferred to Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2 clubs in the summer of 2025 alone. With DAZN as our trusted partner, we’re excited to bring the stories of these local stars even closer to fans across the country – with world-class football, authentic storytelling, and a viewing experience tailored to the Japanese audience.”
Yu Sasamoto, Chief Executive Officer of DAZN Japan, added, “We are very pleased to add the Bundesliga, one of the world’s top football leagues, to DAZN’s lineup. Many Japanese national team players and Japanese players play active roles in the Bundesliga, and we look forward to delivering their performances to fans in Japan through DAZN.”
The Bundesliga has steadily expanded its footprint in Japan, with leading clubs such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, and VfB Stuttgart staging pre-season tours in recent years. Several teams have also built formal partnerships with J.League sides, including 1. FC Köln with Sanfrecce Hiroshima and VfL Bochum with Júbilo Iwata.
Beyond the broadcast, the Bundesliga plans to engage fans at Expo 2025 in Osaka, hosting live screenings and events featuring Japanese football legend Makoto Hasebe.
For DAZN Japan, adding the Bundesliga strengthens its already formidable football portfolio, which includes major European and domestic competitions. For the Bundesliga, the deal represents both a commercial milestone and a strategic play to deepen its influence in Asia’s second-largest football market.
The partnership is expected to increase the league’s visibility in the region while driving DAZN’s subscriber growth, capitalising on the surge of Japanese talent in Germany and the Bundesliga’s reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting leagues.
AloJapan.com