149 players updated
The Bundesliga is the last of Europe’s major leagues to receive new market values. Altogether, 149 players playing in Germany’s first division received new market values. While Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz remain at the top with a market value of €140 million. In third place remains Harry Kane with a market value of €90m. For some of his teammates though it has been an update of ups and downs. While Michael Olise saw his market value increase significantly increase in this update fellow Bayern winger Leroy Sané is among the biggest market value losers.
Sané, in fact, saw his market value drop for a third consecutive time. Indeed, back in December 2023, Sané had a market value of €80m. It was the second highest market value in the career of the 69-times German national team player (14 goals). At the time, Sané formed a fantastic partnership with Kane and the winger finally looked to fulfill his endless potential. Two years later, not much is left of that form. Injuries and inconsistencies saw Sané drop his market value from €80m to €70m in May 2024, then €60m in October 2024 to just €45m in December. As part of this update, Sané now drops to €38m, his lowest market value since June 2017 when he was a rising star at Man City.
While Sané has struggled, there is an argument that Olise was one of the best signings of last summer’s transfer window. The French winger arrived for just €53m from Crystal Palace in July and has scored 13 goals and 11 assists in 40 games across all competitions. “The French trickster is one of the best players of the season,” Transfermarkt Market Value Coordinator Germany Tobias Kröger said about Olise whose market value increased by €15m to now €80m. “His new market value puts him in the same category as Kvaratskhelia or Raphinha and is now the fourth most valuable player in the Bundesliga.”
Bundesliga market values: Xavi Simons drops – Benjamin Sesko in demand
RB Leipzig’s playmaker, Xavi Simons, is no longer the fourth most valuable player in the league. The Dutchman, who missed part of the season with an injury and is only now regaining his form, saw his market value drop by €10m from €80m to €70m.
“Xavi Simons drops because of the transfer fee paid for by RB Leipzig,” Kröger said. “The 21-year-old was permanently signed in a deal worth just €50m from PSG this winter and we have to react to the transfer fee paid.” The size of the clause and RB Leipzig’s ability to make the deal permanent was a surprise. But Xavi’s future will be mostly determined on whether Leipzig can qualify for the Champions League next season.
The same can be said about the club’s top striker Benjamin Sesko. “He is one of the most talented strikers in Europe,” Kröger said. The Slovenian has scored 17 goals and six assists in 36 games across all competitions this season and ranks first among U21 players in Europe’s top five leagues (overview). “The clubs will queue up to sign him in the summer.” Reports have suggested that there is an exit clause in Sesko’s contract worth €70m, but Transfermarkt understands that that isn’t quite the case. There is an understanding that Sesko can leave if certain parameters are met. Those parameters are not tied to a transfer fee, however, and as it is the case for Xavi, will mostly depend on whether the club qualifies for the Champions League. Either way, the Slovenian sees his market value increase by €15m from €50m to now €65m.
Bundesliga market values: Ekitiké up – Many downgrades for Dortmund
Also up by €15m is Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké. The Frenchman saw his market value increase by 37.5% to now €55m. “Ekitiké is the latest super talent striker emerging from Eintracht Frankfurt,” Kröger said. “The 190cm tall striker has been an excellent finisher and incredible technique. His overall package is rare in European football. If his progress continues, there is a good chance his market value will increase again in the summer.
Frankfurt are on Champions League course and that is reflected in the market values of several players. Hugo Larsson (+€5m to €40m), Arthur Theate (+€4m to €24m), Can Uzun (+€6m to €18m), Nathaniel Brown (+€7m to €15m) and Nnamdi Collins (+€6m to €10m) saw their market values increase significantly. Among the players with the biggest increase in market value by percentage is also a Frankfurt player, Oscar Højlund. The brother of Man United striker Rasmus Højlund saw his market value rise by 275% from €2m to €7.5m. Based on percentage, that’s the third most significant upgrade of the market value update. The player with the biggest upgrade based on percentage is Augsburg’s Noahkai Banks. The native of Honolulu, Hawaii, saw his market value increase by 3900% from €150,000 to €6m.
While Banks is among the biggest winners, several Borussia Dortmund players saw their market values drop. Indeed, the player with the biggest drop in market value based on percentage is Niklas Süle. The center-back is the biggest earner at Dortmund but has struggled for form and has visibly been out of shape over the last two seasons. As a result, his market value dropped by 46.7% from €15m to €8m. Other Dortmund players with a downgrade include Marcel Sabitzer (-€5m to €10m), Julian Brandt (-€10m to €25m), Salih Özcan (-€2m to €5m) and Waldemar Anton (-€6m to €18m).
How Transfermarkt market values work
The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees.
The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).
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