Handball Bundesliga: The Portuguese Costa brothers are moving to SG Flensburg-Handewitt in 2027

WIf you like, the celebrity list goes on and on: the Slovenian Domen Makuc, the French Dika Mem and Aymeric Minne, the Danish world champion Emil Bergholt, the Dujshebaev brothers Daniel and Alex and, as the latest addition, the Portuguese Costa brothers Francisco and Martim. All of these handball professionals are moving to the Handball Bundesliga this season or next, which represents the benchmark in world handball.

FC Barcelona recently won the Champions League title with a win against Füchse Berlin, who in turn eliminated the German champions and defending champions SC Magdeburg in the semi-finals. Nevertheless, German handball is the measure of all things in international club competition. In any case, the upgrading of the top clubs in the German elite league continues unabated. Small example? Domen Makuc was the outstanding player in the Catalans’ title win in June – and still signed up in Kiel. The THW has been chasing its great successes for some time. In order to change that, German international Julian Köster from Gummersbach was signed alongside Barcelona’s Makuc.

And of course there is SG Flensburg-Handewitt, which, in addition to championships and cup victories, also boasts a Champions League title. The Schleswig-Holsteiners last won the European League, the little brother of the European premier class, a year ago. However, this does not correspond to the demands of the traditional club, which is why proper investments are being made in the future. At the start of the season, world and European champion Emil Bergholt (from the Danish first division club Skjern), who is supposed to replace Johannes Golla (to Melsungen), as well as the French playmaker Aymeric Minne (from HBC Nantes), who was voted the best player of the previous season in the French league, are coming. The playmaker for the French national team achieved his international breakthrough at the European Championships in Denmark last January, where he made a significant contribution to winning the bronze medal – which brings us to the Portuguese Costa brothers, who will compete for Flensburg from the 2027/28 season.

Because the two backcourt players are crucial to the southern Europeans’ rise to the world elite. In Herning, for example, the Portuguese were the only team that was able to inflict defeat on the hosts and eventual European champions. Right-hander Martim Costa occupies the left back position and is extremely strong in one-on-one games. He can also be the playmaker in the middle of the backcourt because, in addition to being a goal threat, he has a large throwing repertoire and a good eye. Despite his 23 years, Costa is one of the internationally experienced players in the Portuguese national team: he plays in the Champions League with his home club Sporting Lisbon, and he was elected to the all-star team in major tournaments such as the World Cup last year, when Portugal knocked the German team out of the competition in the quarter-finals.  In addition, you don’t have to have any powers of vision to believe that Costa will develop significantly.

SG managing director Holger Glandorf speaks of a “very special obligation”

This applies even more to his brother Francisco, who turned 21 in February, and with 44 appearances for Portugal, he has one more than his brother. Kiko, as he is called, also plays for the Portuguese champions Lisbon and is one of the group of professionals who, as left-handers, play decisive roles in their selections – like the Dane Mathias Gidsel, France’s Dika Mem, the Spaniard Alex Dujshebaev, the Croatian Ivan Martinovic or Renars Uscins in the German team. Many see Costa as the most talented of this guard: like his brother Martim, he has great strengths in one-on-one situations as well as enormous throwing power and effectiveness from the backcourt. Kiko Costa is regularly one of the top scorers at major international tournaments and was named the best young player at both the recent World Cup and the European Championships.

With this duo, the SG Flensburg team, which is traditionally one of the favorites in the Bundesliga, will be enormously strengthened. Coach Ales Pajovic, who, however, has to wait another season, is already looking forward to two “of the most exciting players of their generation. They bring a lot of quality, game intelligence and, despite their young age, have already gained important experience at the top international level. At the same time, both are very down-to-earth and hungry for success, characteristics that fit our team and our philosophy perfectly.”

And SG managing director Holger Glandorf is rightly proud of a “very special commitment”. Up until now, the Flensburgers have been strongly oriented towards the Scandinavian market, but the brothers from the south also fit this pattern perfectly. Because they stand for fast handball both in their club and in the Portuguese national team – Francisco in particular is one of the world’s best counter-attack players. And they are the next big names for the Bundesliga.