Top 10 most expensive German players in football history

Premier League clubs have spent some big money on German reinforcements

The German football landscape has been a breeding ground for exceptional talent, and the impact of German players on the global stage cannot be overstated. After exploration, we find that there is a hefty transfer fee that has been paid to secure German services.

Kai Havertz has completed his big-money move across the capital after signing for Arsenal from London rivals Chelsea. The German international signs for the Gunners as the club prepares to return to the Champions League next season and will add to the attacking options in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Here are the top ten German players in football history.

10. Thilo Kehrer - €37m (PSG)

PSG added to their defensive depth and long-term plans by signing Schalke youngster Thilo Kehrer. The then-21-year-old was signed for a €37 million fee. He is seen as one of the top defensive talents in German football and yet another impressive prospect from Schalke's academy.

Like Leon Goretzka, Julian Draxler, and Max Meyer before him, he opted to leave the club at a young age. Kehrer is an athletically gifted centre-back with plenty of strength and enough speed to play as a full-back.

9. Mario Gotze - €37m (Bayern Munich)

Götze broke into the Borussia Dortmund team at the age of 17 and made 83 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring 22 goals. The Germany international midfielder joined Bayern Munich on July 1, ahead of the 2013–14 season. Gotze was the main man to win the World Cup for Germany when he scored an extra-time winner against Argentina.

8. Shkodran Mustafi - €41m (Arsenal)

World Cup winner Shkodran joined Arsenal from Valencia in August 2016 and became a key part of the club's backline during his time at the club. The German centre-back played in the Premier League for six years and saw his playing time drop as he continued to make his way out of the club. Since then, he has not played a lot of football, be it at Schalke or Levante.

7. Julian Draxler - €43m (PSG)

Julian Draxler was viewed as one of German football’s most exciting talents during spells at Schalke and Wolfsburg before Paris Saint-Germain agreed a deal to sign the midfielder. Draxler had been part of the Germany squad that won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and departed the Bundesliga in search of a new challenge. He made a bright start to his career at PSG and has won four Ligue 1 titles, but has struggled to reach the heights expected.

6. Mesut Ozil - €47m (Arsenal)

Mesut Ozil was a magician on the field who always played the right notes. After his successful spell at Real Madrid, Arsenal signed him after smashing the club's transfer record in 2013. Ozil arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s best creators, having starred on the international stage with Germany, leading both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012 in assists. He provided 19 assists in the 2015-16 Premier League season—the second most in a single season.

5. Leroy Sane - €49m (Bayern Munich)

Leroy Sane sealed a return to the Bundesliga after completing a transfer from Manchester City to Bayern Munich in 2020. Sane starred in the Premier League after signing for Manchester City from Schalke. The winger was often electric across four seasons at the Etihad. He has won three consecutive Bundesliga titles since returning to German football. He has 75 goals and assists in 133 appearances for the Bavarians so far.

4. Leroy Sane - €52m (Manchester City)

The German winger joined Manchester City from Schalke 04 in the 2016–2017 season for €52 million. He was named the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2017-18 as Pep Guardiola’s side won the title with a record-breaking 100 points and lifted six major honours during his time in English football. Moving to Bayern Munich in the 2020 summer transfer window for €49 million made him the fifth-most expensive German signing.

3. Timo Werner - €53m (Chelsea)

The German striker joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in the 2020–21 season for a fee of €53 million. However, he lost his regular first-team spot to Kai Havertz, which ended his spell at the club with three major trophies: the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. The German striker then went back to RB Leipzig, where he started to shine, and since then he has been a major part of the attack.

2. Kai Havertz - €70m (Arsenal)

The German international won the Champions League for Chelsea after he scored the winner against Manchester City in the final, but struggled to produce consistent performances during his three seasons at Chelsea. Kai Havertz’s cross-capital switch makes him the second-most expensive German footballer of all time. Arsenal will hope that the 24-year-old will improve creativity in the midfield.

1. Kai Havertz - €80m (Chelsea)

Kai Havertz is now the first and second-most expensive German footballer in history. Havertz’s move from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea remains the most expensive transfer deal involving a German after the west Londoners signed the midfielder.

Chelsea’s capture of Havertz was viewed with considerable interest by Europe’s elite; he scored 29 league goals across his final two seasons at Bayer Leverkusen. He will depart with fond memories of scoring the winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final. He scored 32 goals and provided 15 assists in 139 appearances for Chelsea.