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The Premier League’s record-breaking summer transfer window has had a major impact on Germany, where even Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are beginning to feel the effects of English football’s financial dominance.
See also: Premier League Breaks Record with £3 Billion Summer Transfer Spending
More than three billion euros was spent by English clubs this summer, with over 380 million euros paid for four Bundesliga players alone: Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Nick Woltemade, and Benjamin Sesko.
This wave of departures has reignited debate in Germany over the country’s football structure, especially the 50+1 rule. The rule ensures that fans retain control of their clubs but restricts outside investment, leaving German teams unable to compete financially with English sides.
Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn criticized the league’s cautious approach, warning that without bold reforms, Germany risks being reduced to a talent factory for others. While he did not directly call for the abolition of the 50+1 rule, Kahn argued that the current structures make it impossible to keep top players. The impact has been especially harsh for Bayer Leverkusen, who lost eight members of their double-winning 2023–24 squad, five of them to the Premier League.
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For some in Germany, the Premier League’s vast wealth is not only a challenge but also an opportunity. Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, and Stuttgart each sold players for fees above 50 million euros this summer, helping them to strengthen their finances.
Stuttgart, in particular, have been able to benefit from this trend. The club sold Woltemade for 85 million euros just a year after signing him on a free transfer. With Porsche also investing 100 million euros into the side, Stuttgart secured long-term stability, qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 15 years, and went on to win the German Cup.
Nevertheless, even Bayern Munich have struggled to compete with England’s resources. Despite pursuing both Wirtz and Woltemade, they were unable to stop Liverpool from signing the pair. Bayern sporting director Max Eberl admitted the club must remain “financially prudent,” while new coach Vincent Kompany summed up the Premier League’s pulling power with a single word: money.
Bayern, traditionally dominant after poaching rivals’ best players, now face stronger competition from England. The Bundesliga’s proud history and fan-centric model remain intact, but with the Premier League accounting for more than half of Europe’s transfer spending, German football risks falling further behind unless structural changes are made.
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