Bundesliga clubs resisted the urge to splash out on the last day of the transfer window on Thursday, denying German football fans any eye-catching signings to rival David Beckham's arrival at Paris Saint-Germain.
Relegation-threatened Hoffenheim provided the headlines by dropping former Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese and bringing in Tottenham's third-choice goalie Heurelho Gomes on loan until the end of the season.
''The pressure (Wiese) is under not to make a mistake going into every game is inhumane. He can't do it. That's why we have act according to our responsibilities,'' said Hoffenheim manager Andreas Mueller, whose side is second from bottom and has the worst defensive record in the league.
Gomes was Hoffenheim's sixth signing of the winter transfer period, as the club backed by software millionaire Dietmar Hopp seeks to improve on a return of just two points from its last nine games.
Only bottom side Greuther Fuerth was as busy, though it had considerably less to spend on new signings, as it attempts to avoid relegation after just one season in the Bundesliga.
Fuerth completed its spree with the signing of Florian Trinks from Werder Bremen and a loan deal for another midfielder, Jozsef Varga from Hungarian champion Debrecen.
Augsburg is also fighting relegation and it announced the signing of Cameroonian playmaker and free agent Somen Tchoyi, who previously played for English side West Bromwich Albion.
Freiburg arguably made the most exciting transfer of the day with the signing of promising midfielder Hendrick Zuck from second division club Kaiserslautern.
The 22-year-old Zuck, who can play across a range of positions in midfield, scored four goals in 18 league games for Kaiserslautern.
Meanwhile, Bremen announced that 18-year-old forward Davie Selke will join its youth setup after transferring from Hoffenheim.
Nuremberg added to a deal for Japanese midfielder Mu Kanazaki the day before with the signings of 17-year-old prospects Maximilan Dittgen from Schalke and Borussia Dortmund's Nick Weber, who will arrive next season.
Second division Jahn Regensburg completed the signing of Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman, Spanish striker Koke, and 20-year-old goalkeeper Bernhard Hendl.
