The 1989–90 DDR-Oberliga was the 41st season of the DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of league football in East Germany. It was the last season of the league under the name of DDR-Oberliga as it played as the NOFV-Oberliga in the following season. East Germany saw great political change during the 1989–90 season with the opening of borders in October 1989, free elections in March 1990 and the eventual German reunification later in the year.
The league was contested by fourteen teams. Dynamo Dresden won the championship, the club's last out of eight East German championships.[1][2]
During the season Berliner FC Dynamo was renamed to FC Berlin, BSG Wismut Aue was renamed to FC Wismut Aue and BSG Stahl Eisenhüttenstadt became Eisenhüttenstädter FC Stahl while further name changes followed in the off-season.[6] As another sign of the changes in East Germany players were, for the first time, allowed to transfer to western clubs during the 1989–90 seasons. Andreas Thom was the first, leaving BFC Dynamo for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in December 1989, followed by others which, while financially lucrative, left DDR-Oberliga clubs like Dynamo weakened.[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.