The world of football has witnessed a tremendous increase in the amount clubs pay to players.
The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Paul Pogba were signed at a price that made them the most expensive player in the world in 2009, 2013 and 2017 respectively. It was even the least expected when PSG coughed out a whooping £198 million to sign Neymar from Barcelona last summer.
Streamlined to Germany, the country’s league Bundesliga is one of the top five leagues in the world. The league boasts of top clubs with exceptional players that have made their marks in the UEFA Champions League. Bundesliga’s stock has been rising over the last few years, and that has correlated with the salaries of its star players. Clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have players that can stand among top paid players in the world.
However, who are the highest paid Bundesliga players?
Here are the 5 highest paid players in Bundesliga in 2021.
1. Roberto Lewandowski – €388,000
The Bayern Munich forward is the highest paid player in Bundesliga at £388,000 per week. He has won the league title in each of his first six seasons with the Bavarians. The Poland international has more than 200 goals to his name, and he is the fastest foreign player to reach that milestone in the Bundesliga. The 2020 FIFA Men’s Best Player of the Year is one of the best strikers in the world right now, and rightly deserves to be paid that much. He has been reported to earn over 20 million euros annually.
2. Manuel Neuer – €300,000
Another player from Bayern Munich on the list, the veteran goalkeeper has been an integral part of the Bayern, winning many league titles, DFB pokal cup, and the Champions League. He is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He is the captain for the Bavarians and the Germany national team. In May 2020, Neuer signed a new deal with Bayern Munich that would keep him at the club till 2023.
3. Thomas Muller – €288,000
The German international is versatile as a forward or a midfielder. He is a product of Bayern Munich youth system before breaking into their senior team in 2009 – 2010 season. He was named the Best Young Player of 2010 World Cup. He has more than goals for club and country. Thomas Muller is still very influential for Bayern Munich in the 2020/21 season. So far he has scored 10 goals and provided 10 assists in the Bundesliga.
4. Lucas Hernandez – €250,000
Also a Bayern Munich player, Hernandez is the fourth on our list. He was part of the winning the French team that won the 2018 World Cup. He can play as a left-back or a central defender. He won both the Europa League and Super Cup with Atletico Madrid in 2018. He joined Bayern in the 2019 summer transfer window. The 24-year-old has made only 12 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern Munich this 2020/21 season, with one assist to his name.
5. Jerome Boateng – €230,000
Since joining Bayern Munich in 2011, Jerome Boateng has become a key player for the Bavarians. The 32-year-old has not shown any sign of slowing down, and has cemented his place at the heart of Bayern’s defensive backline. At the time of this writing, Boateng has made 17 appearances this season. The German centre-back reportedly earns around 12 million euros a year, which puts him at about €230,000. He is arguably one if the best defenders in the Bundesliga, and deserves his wages.
Honourable Mentions:
- Leroy Sane – €225,000 per week
- Marco Reus – €210,000 per week
- Matt Hummel’s – €190,000 per week
- Jadon Sancho – €160,000 per week
- Axel Witsel – €155,000 per week
Great article. They all deserve the pay they get