Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner: These are the most expensive German players
Florian Wirtz, 150 million euros (from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool FC), 2025
German international Wirtz is one of the best German footballers currently available. He decided against a move to FC Bayern and instead moved to the best league in the world, the Premier League. At reigning champions Liverpool, he will face tough competition.
Kai Havertz I, 80 million euros (from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea FC), 2020*
Like Wirtz, striker Havertz had recommended himself for a move to the UK through strong performances at Bayer Leverkusen. Chelsea FC jumped at the chance. Havertz celebrated his greatest success with Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City – his goal helped his team win 1-0.
*All figures from transfermarkt.de. Any bonus payments are not included.
Kai Havertz II, 75 million euros (from Chelsea to Arsenal), 2023
Havertz changed clubs two years later, but stayed on the island: Arsenal FC signed the attacker. He scored nine times in the league and four times in the Champions League for Arsenal last season.
Timo Werner, 53 million euros (from RB Leipzig to Chelsea FC), 2020
Like Havertz, striker Werner moved to Chelsea, but he came from RB Leipzig. However, he struggled to find his feet in the Premier League and was also publicly criticized by coach Frank Lampard. Due to the fierce competition in attack, Werner returned to Leipzig in the summer of 2022.
Leroy Sané I, 52 million euros (from Schalke 04 to Manchester City), 2016
Sané, who had already demonstrated his footballing prowess at Schalke, was brought to Manchester City by Pep Guardiola. With the club, he won the English league title in his second season on the island and was named the Premier League's best young player. However, in 2019, he had to take a lengthy break due to a cruciate ligament tear.
Leroy Sané II, €49 million (from Manchester City to Bayern Munich), 2020
There had been rumors about Sané's move to Bayern Munich for some time, and it finally happened in the 2020/2021 season. He celebrated four German championships and two Supercup victories with the Munich club, but despite consistently outstanding performances, he was never able to fully convince Bayern. After the end of the current season, he moved to Galatasaray Istanbul.
Mesut Özil, 47 million euros (from Real Madrid to Arsenal FC), 2013
Özil's transfer to Arsenal came as a surprise to many, and Cristiano Ronaldo was famously critical. The Portuguese Real Madrid star was reportedly furious because Özil had reliably provided him with assists and the two had a good working relationship on the pitch. Özil played more games for Arsenal than for Real and only moved to Turkey after eight years on the island.
Julian Draxler, 43 million euros (from FC Schalke to VfL Wolfsburg), 2015
Like so many others, Draxler had celebrated his breakthrough at Schalke – which also aroused interest among rivals. VfL Wolfsburg pounced on the last day of the transfer window and signed the German international. However, Draxler didn't stay in Wolfsburg for long – in early 2017, he moved to PSG.
Shkodran Mustafi, 41 million euros (from Valencia to Arsenal), 2016
Mustafi was one of the big surprises in the 2014 World Cup squad. The defender started the tournament, but then injured his right thigh and was out for the rest of the tournament. He still won the World Cup, of course. He was initially a regular at Arsenal, but his contract was terminated in the winter of 2021.
Thilo Kehrer, 37 million euros (from FC Schalke to Paris Saint-Germain), 2018
Kehrer also entered professional football at FC Schalke. Thomas Tuchel then brought the all-round defensive player to PSG, where he also made some appearances. However, Kehrer was unable to establish himself permanently. In 2022, he moved on to West Ham United, and is now under contract with AS Monaco.
Mario Götze, 37 million euros (from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich), 2013
It was the transfer everyone was talking about: Shortly before the 2013 German-German Champions League final, it was announced that Götze would be moving from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich, which sparked fierce criticism. However, Götze ultimately missed the final due to injury. Götze stayed in Munich for three years before returning to Borussia Dortmund. He now plays for Eintracht Frankfurt.
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