Haaland Tops the Charts: How 69 Bundesliga Signings Stack Up in the Premier League

Since the summer of 2021, Premier League clubs have pursued German talent with varying degrees of success. We've ranked the 69 Bundesliga signings from that period onwards—a project that, while not exhaustive of every single arrival ever, captures the modern wave of German imports.

The central question: does the Bundesliga tax genuinely exist? This phenomenon describes the tendency for English clubs to overpay for German players who subsequently struggle with the pace and physicality of English football. Recent arrivals including Nick Woltemade, Xavi Simons, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike have added fresh data to this debate, though Wirtz's early difficulties may give Premier League executives pause before splashing serious cash on Bundesliga prospects.

The Basement Dwellers

At the bottom sits Jadon Sancho, who arrived at Manchester United after months of pursuit only to become a shadow of his Borussia Dortmund self—a player who had registered 89 goal contributions in Germany. His subsequent loan to Chelsea proved underwhelming before a move to Aston Villa.

Naouirou Ahamada barely registered during his Crystal Palace stint, somehow accumulating 31 appearances before joining Auxerre for nothing in January. Sasa Kalajdzic's Wolves career has been derailed by an ACL injury on his debut; the Austrian is now on his second loan spell, currently at LASK after a brief Frankfurt stint.

Omar Richards made zero appearances for Nottingham Forest, while Jamie Gittens arrived at Chelsea but remains largely unproven. Niclas Fullkrug's West Ham signing raises the perennial question: why West Ham? Giovanni Reyna's loan spell at Forest in the second half of 2023/24 yielded little impact, and Ozan Kabak, following an unconvincing Liverpool loan, helped Norwich secure relegation.

The Middle Ground

As we climb the rankings, the narrative shifts toward serviceable but unspectacular contributions. Constantinos Mavropanos impressed at Stuttgart but has proven average-to-poor at West Ham. Benjamin Sesko arrived at Manchester United with significant expectations, though his brace against Burnley offered early encouragement under Michael Carrick's management.

Nick Woltemade's Newcastle transfer fee of £73m looks increasingly difficult to justify as he appears more limited than initially hoped. Georginio Rutter's January 2023 arrival at Leeds coincided with their relegation struggles; he has since thrived in the Championship and is now flourishing at Brighton.

Christopher Nkunku joined Chelsea for £51m but injuries immediately curtailed his impact, preventing him from establishing himself as a regular starter despite his Leipzig pedigree. Florian Wirtz's £100m move to Liverpool has disappointed early on, though at 22, he is showing signs of improvement—his Barnsley goal demonstrated his quality.

The Success Stories

Towards the summit, genuine gems emerge. Jean-Philippe Mateta cost around £10m in January 2022 and took time to settle, but has become a consistent threat. He finished 2023/24 with 16 league goals and subsequently bagged 14 in 2024/25 while helping Crystal Palace claim the FA Cup.

Ryan Gravenberch arrived at Liverpool following the club's failed pursuit of Martin Zubimendi and has blossomed into one of Europe's finest deep-lying midfielders. Josko Gvardiol represented a hefty investment at £77m for Manchester City but is destined to justify that outlay over the long term.

The Crown Jewel

Erling Haaland reigns supreme. Manchester City's decision to do repeat business with Borussia Dortmund has yielded extraordinary dividends—Manuel Akanji has proven excellent, while Ilkay Gundogan's £21m 2016 transfer remains one of the club's shrewdest acquisitions. Yet Haaland transcends comparison.

Signed specifically to deliver Champions League glory, he delivered precisely that during City's historic Treble-winning campaign. A staggering 52 goals in 53 games during his debut season represented an almost incomprehensible return. His subsequent 115-month contract—one of football's most lucrative—reflects his status as the pinnacle of Bundesliga-to-Premier League transfers.

The Bundesliga tax remains a genuine concern for English clubs, yet these rankings demonstrate that patience, proper recruitment, and favourable circumstances can transform German signings into world-class assets. Haaland stands as the ultimate vindication.