Introduction to Bundesliga’s Loss of Talent
The Bundesliga experienced a significant loss of talent in the summer, with notable players leaving the league. Florian Wirtz moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool, while Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller decided to end his career at the Vancouver Whitecaps. Additionally, Kingsley Coman, who won the Champions League in 2020, left for the Saudi Pro League.
Logic Behind the Moves
Each of these moves had its own logic. The 22-year-old Wirtz wanted to take the next step in his career, while the 35-year-old Müller chose Vancouver, a city often ranked as one of the best places to live. Coman, 29, increased his annual income from €17 million to around €20 million.
Problem for the Bundesliga
However, these transfers are symptomatic of a larger problem for the Bundesliga. In return, only one player with a global profile moved to Germany from abroad. The Colombian striker Luis Diaz joined Bayern Munich from Liverpool.
Bayern’s Attraction
Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Max Eberl, believes that the club can still attract top stars. "Anyone who claims that Bayern has lost its international attraction for top stars does not know the market," Eberl said. "FC Bayern can get any player it wants when it is ready to pay the price."
Bundesliga’s Lost Prestige
Former Bayern chairman Oliver Kahn sounds the alarm, stating that the Bundesliga has lost its prestige and that its alleged attraction is "deceptive". The Premier League and La Liga stand out clearly, with everyone knowing their stars and teams.
Premier League’s Dominance
The fact that Florian Wirtz chose Liverpool over Bayern Munich should give the Bundesliga food for thought, according to Kahn. The Premier League has established itself as an extraordinary player in sporting, business, and media terms. It is the most exciting place for players who want to compete at the highest level.
Sporting Performance
In terms of sport, the Bundesliga has lost ground in Europe. German clubs have won only two major international titles in the past ten years: Bayern Munich’s Champions League win in 2020 and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League win in 2022.
Financial Performance
Financially, the Bundesliga generated record sales of €4.8 billion in the 2023-34 season, good enough for second place in Europe. However, this is far behind the Premier League, which achieved €7.4 billion. The Premier League also leads in terms of television rights income, with €1.95 billion in the 2025-26 season, compared to the Bundesliga’s €1.12 billion.
Attendance Figures
The Bundesliga has traditionally had the highest attendance figures in Europe, but the Premier League has now taken the lead. Last season, the average attendance in the English top flight was 40,474, while in the Bundesliga it was 38,662. Attendance in Bundesliga stadiums has been declining, with the total number of spectators falling from 13.1 million in the 2022-23 season to 12.1 million in 2023-24 and 11.8 million in 2024-25.
Average is Not World-Class
Former international Matthias Sammer, who won the European Championship with Germany in 1996, is also sounding the alarm. "When I see German football, I ask myself: What is German football actually today?" Sammer said. German football needs to "learn again not to sell average as world-class". If the Bundesliga does not take heed, more stars may leave the league.
