Comprehensive Ranking of Bundesliga Players Transferred to Premier League Clubs Since 2021

We have compiled an extensive ranking of all Bundesliga players signed by Premier League clubs since the summer transfer window of 2021. Recent signings such as Nick Woltemade, Xavi Simons, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike have been included in this list.

Is There a Bundesliga Tax?

An intriguing query arises: does a “Bundesliga tax” truly exist? The standard of players seems to be on the rise; however, early issues faced by Wirtz might make Premier League teams reconsider splurging on German talent.

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Understanding the Bundesliga Tax

The term “Bundesliga tax” refers to the situation where Premier League clubs might overpay for German players who struggle to adapt to the faster pace and physical demands of English football. This pattern appears more frequent than one would hope. Notably, RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande may become the next victim of this phenomenon.

Overview of Bundesliga Players Transferring to the Premier League Since 2021

From overhyped flops to true gems, here is the ranking of 69 players who moved from the Bundesliga to the Premier League since the 2021 summer transfer window.

Ranking Every Bundesliga Signing Made by Premier League Clubs Since 2021

69) Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)

68) Naouirou Ahamada (Crystal Palace)

We remain skeptical about his existence as he made 31 appearances for Palace before departing for Auxerre at no cost in January.

67) Sasa Kalajdzic (Wolves)

Kalajdzic remains with Wolves and is on his second loan, currently at LASK, having previously spent six months at Frankfurt in 2024. Unfortunately, he suffered an ACL injury during his debut for Wolves and has only made 13 Premier League appearances since 2022.

66) Omar Richards (Nottingham Forest)

Richards spent the previous season on loan at sister club Rio Ave and has yet to appear for Forest.

65) Jamie Gittens (Chelsea)

Gittens might deserve a lower ranking, but he still has time to establish himself at Chelsea.

64) Niclas Füllkrug (West Ham)

West Ham’s signing of Füllkrug is puzzling—perhaps just another West Ham decision.

63) Giovanni Reyna (Nottingham Forest)

Reyna was signed on loan during the latter half of the 2023/24 season but had a minimal impact.

62) Ozan Kabak (Norwich)

After a disappointing loan spell with Liverpool, Kabak sought another chance in the Premier League, but ended up contributing to Norwich’s relegation.

61) Merlin Rohl (Everton)

Rohl’s brother Fig appears to be the standout player in the family.

60) Jonah Kusi-Asare (Fulham)

Most fans would likely be unaware of Kusi-Asare’s existence.

59) Max Weiss (Burnley)

Made three cup appearances without recording a single clean sheet.

58) Milot Rashica (Norwich)

He joined Norwich after a decent stretch with Werder Bremen but failed to acclimate to the English game, leading to a loan move to Galatasaray a year later.

57) Kevin Mbabu (Fulham)

Mbabu was signed for just £4m, but his playing time was scarce.

56) Mahmoud Dahoud (Brighton)

Dahoud was touted as a potential bargain for the 2023/24 season but did not deliver.

55) Eric da Silva Moreira (Nottingham Forest)

His loan at Rio Ave was recently terminated.

54) Wout Weghorst (Burnley)

Weghorst struggled to replace Chris Wood and was part of Burnley’s relegation after a six-year tenure in the top division.

53) Orel Mangala (Nottingham Forest)

Mangala joined from Stuttgart and managed just two goal contributions in 27 league matches before moving to Lyon and then Everton for a season.

52) Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham)

He excelled at Stuttgart but fell short at West Ham.

Noteworthy Recent Signings

50) Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United)

Group three expensive signings together; the verdict is still pending, with most initial signs being negative, though Sesko’s brace against Burnley could indicate a turnaround.

49) Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)

Woltemade had a solid start but is beginning to resemble a less impressive signing. Although he shows flashes of brilliance, there are growing doubts about his long-term value at £73m.

48) Georginio Rutter (Leeds)

His January signing in 2023 was a blunder during Leeds’ relegation struggle. Rutter has since impressed in the Championship and is thriving at Brighton.

47) Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea)

Joining Chelsea with high hopes for £51m, injuries hampered Nkunku’s progress, and he struggled to secure a starting position despite his talents shown at Leipzig.

46) Amine Adli (Bournemouth)

Adli must improve from his solitary goal in 19 matches following Antoine Semenyo’s departure from Bournemouth.

45) Sebastiaan Bornauw (Leeds)

While Bornauw is a competent player, he is rumored to return to Germany soon.

44) Armel Bella-Kotchap (Southampton)

Bella-Kotchap initially impressed after transitioning from VfL Bochum, but as Southampton faced relegation, his early promise faded.

43) Marc Roca (Leeds)

Roca struggled without Tyler Adams alongside him but didn’t break the bank at £8m.

42) Jacob Bruun Larsen (Burnley)

Bruun Larsen has been signed twice by Burnley, first on loan and later permanently, although this counts as a single inclusion here.

Current Status of Premier League Players from Bundesliga

41) Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)

High expectations accompanied Wirtz’s £100m price tag, but he is just 22 and seems to be improving despite a rocky start.

40) Mathys Tel (Tottenham)

Tel, who was billed as a potential sensation, has yet to impress amid challenges, though he may showcase his talents elsewhere.

39) Lukas Nmecha (Leeds)

Acquired on a free transfer, Nmecha has shown flashes of promise.

38) Ademola Lookman (Leicester)

Lookman scored six goals in 26 league appearances, including a pivotal goal that thwarted Liverpool’s title hopes.

37) Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa)

After an unremarkable debut season, Diaby moved to Saudi Arabia, effectively a break-even transaction for Villa.

36) Adam Aznou (Everton)

Aznou’s fans are eager to witness more of his play.

35) Jordan Beyer (Burnley)

Beyer, who arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach, has not played all season despite his successful loan.

34) Donyell Malen (Aston Villa)

Malen’s over £21m fee in January saw him lose his Champions League spot to Marcus Rashford; he is now set to join Roma.

33) Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool)

Much faster than a traditional right-back, Frimpong still manages to contribute significantly.

32) Pascal Gross (Brighton)

Gross has recently made his way back to Brighton.

31) Wataru Endo (Liverpool)

Endo is a dependable rotation choice but rarely sees action on the pitch.

30) Leon Bailey (Aston Villa)

Bailey, signed for £25m in 2021, took longer than expected to shine but ultimately did perform well in 2023/24 before his move to Roma.

29) Josh Sargent (Norwich)

Sargent has thrived at Norwich during their Championship season, not yet translating this success to the Premier League.

28) Mark Flekken (Brentford)

Flekken has delivered a solid performance for Brentford, managing to stay effective throughout.

Additional Rankings of Bundesliga Acquisitions

27) Omar Marmoush (Manchester City)

Marmoush initially appeared to have immense potential, though playing time has been scarce this season, particularly after Semenyo’s signing.

26) Lutsharel Geertruida (Sunderland)

One of several noteworthy summer additions for Sunderland.

25) Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United)

A solid addition for £15m, Mazraoui has justified his transfer.

24) Brajan Gruda (Brighton)

Gruda, signed for £25m, is beginning to showcase his true potential.

23) Marcel Sabitzer (Manchester United)

Sabitzer, who arrived on loan, filled a void for Erik ten Hag and should have been permanently acquired for £15m.

22) Tyler Adams (Leeds)

Although Leeds made several questionable signings ahead of their relegation season, Adams stood out as a valuable addition. He has since joined Bournemouth, having reinforced his capabilities during his tenure at Elland Road.

21) Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United)

De Ligt performed adequately last season, showing great potential amid coaching changes.

20) Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)

Ekitike commanded a significant fee, and while early indications are promising, questions remain about his potential to reach world-class status.

19) Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves)

Hwang offers a reliable performance, but inconsistency has plagued him recently.

18) Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest)

Niakhate transitioned from Mainz to Forest as part of an overhaul. He performed decently, but his hefty price tag from Lyon obscured his original fee.

17) Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)

Richards, who was acquired for around £10m, has made solid contributions when called upon.

16) Joao Palhinha (Spurs)

Palhinha excels defensively, but Spurs require a more complete midfielder.

15) Anton Stach (Leeds)

Stach has proven to be a remarkable signing.

14) Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)

His contributions in the 2022/23 campaign were vital in keeping Forest in Europe, steering them clear from the Championship.

13) Demarai Gray (Everton)

Acquired for a modest £1.5m, Gray has exceeded expectations, proving to be a steal.

12) Stefan Ortega (Manchester City)

Ortega joined as a free agent in summer 2022 and stands out as one of the finest backup goalkeepers.

11) Kevin Schade (Brentford)

Signing Schade for around £20m has worked well after injury issues; he recorded 11 goals and two assists last season.

Top 10 Bundesliga Signings

10) Manuel Akanji (Manchester City)

Akanji’s arrival from Borussia Dortmund surprised many, but he swiftly established himself as a top defender.

9) Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)

Replacing Joachim Andersen posed challenges for Palace, but Lacroix has done exceptionally well.

8) Micky van de Ven (Tottenham)

Van de Ven possesses incredible speed combined with solid defensive skills.

7) Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)

Xhaka has impressed since joining Sunderland, making a remarkable impact.

6) Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)

Szoboszlai’s performance improved significantly after the arrival of manager Slot and has proven pivotal in Liverpool’s recent successes.

5) Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)

Despite his injury history, Konate’s acquisition for £36m stands out as a terrific deal.

4) Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)

Mateta’s signing was initially met with skepticism, but he has turned into an unstoppable force under current management.

3) Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)

Initially pursuing Martin Zubimendi, Liverpool found a gem in Gravenberch, who has become a leading midfielder in Europe.

2) Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)

Gvardiol’s hefty transfer fee seems justified, with expectations that he will prove worth the investment.

1) Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Haaland’s signing has become a masterstroke for City, contributing massively to their recent successes, including a spectacular 52 goals in his inaugural season.

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This restructured content delivers a unique perspective on the Bundesliga players making their way to the Premier League, maintaining the core information while offering fresh phrasing and insights.