Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Thomas Müller have already left, and Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko could follow. The Bundesliga is losing many stars – and only a few new ones are coming in.
Florian Wirtz prefers Anfield Road in the hunt for the European crown. Granit Xhaka would rather play in England against relegation than in Germany for the title. Thomas Müller is drawn to the other side of the Atlantic in the final stretch of his career. The Bundesliga has already lost some of its biggest stars this summer – and more big names are on the verge of leaving.
The German elite league “still doesn’t play a major role internationally,” Oliver Kahn said in an interview with kicker magazine: “When I talk to people anywhere in the world, they don’t see much difference between the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1. The Premier League and La Liga stand out clearly.” That’s why he can “well understand” young star Wirtz, who moved to Liverpool FC instead of Bayern. However, it should “give those responsible pause for thought when one of the best German players prefers to move to England rather than Bayern,” said the former Bayern executive. He sees “a deceptive appeal” in German soccer. Wirtz is by no means the only one who finds other leagues more appealing than the German elite league. Full stadiums, an outstanding atmosphere, and perfect conditions are no longer enough in this day and age.
Xhaka, for example, is moving from Bundesliga runners-up Bayer Leverkusen to Premier League newcomers AFC Sunderland, while Hugo Ekitiké and Jeremie Frimpong are being lured to Liverpool for millions. Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons are also close to making the move to England for big money. Even average Bundesliga players such as Anton Stach and Damion Downs are being snapped up by English clubs for big money. German clubs cannot compete financially. “We cannot and will not enter this race unconditionally when players are coveted by top clubs,” said Eintracht Frankfurt’s CEO Axel Hellmann in kicker magazine: “The earning potential on the international market has changed, as have the transfer fees for established players with international experience.” In addition to Ekitiké, SGE recently had to let Tuta, who is in his prime, move to Qatar, and Stuttgart’s Enzo Millot is likely to move to Saudi Arabia at the age of 23. Meanwhile, new stars are in short supply. The only world-class player to join Bayern Munich is Luis Díaz from Liverpool, but otherwise even the nationally dominant Munich club is struggling on the international market. The German elite league mainly attracts up-and-coming and promising top talents such as Jobe Bellingham, Jarell Quansah, Malik Tillman, and Johan Bakayoko—the league is seen as a springboard.
To change this, German soccer must develop a new identity. “When I look at German soccer today, I deliberately ask myself the provocative question: What does German soccer actually stand for?” said Matthias Sammer. “I can’t see it.” Apparently, many stars don’t either.