Florian Wirtz became the most expensive signing in Premier League history when he joined Liverpool for £116million earlier this month.
He joins a long list of Germans to have graced the division. In this article, we take a look at the five best players from Die Mannschaft who have plied their trade in England.
Ilkay Gundogan
Having helped Borussia Dortmund to the Bundesliga title in 2012, Ilkay Gundogan arrived at Manchester City in 2016 and became a pivotal part of their success under Pep Guardiola.
He netted twice against Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021-22 season to snatch the title away from Liverpool in a typically dramatic final day of the campaign for the Cityzens.
Gundogan then captained City to a famous treble in 2023, scoring the quickest FA Cup final goal in history against Manchester United. He also found the winner in that match after Bruno Fernandes had equalised.
Barcelona signed him on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, but Gundogan would return to Manchester a year later, signing a one-year deal at the Etihad.
Mesut Ozil
Arsenal’s deadline day signing of Mesut Ozil in 2013 was a huge moment for the club. After several years of failing to compete for the Premier League title, it was a statement of intent that gave everyone at the Emirates a big lift.
His impact went beyond playmaking, goals, and assists – he instantly elevated the performance of those around him. Aaron Ramsey, in particular, thrived alongside Ozil, and together they were instrumental in the Gunners leading the league at the turn of the year.
The 2015-16 campaign was Ozil’s best in Arsenal colours. He registered 19 Premier League assists as the North Londoners launched a genuine title challenge but fell short.
Robert Huth
A three-time Premier League winner with two different clubs, Robert Huth is among the most decorated Germans in English top-flight history.
After making his Chelsea debut at 17 in 2002, it was during Claudio Ranieri’s final season at Stamford Bridge that the defender truly established himself in the first-team squad.
That status continued under Jose Mourinho, with Huth making double-digit league appearances in both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
Huth enjoyed the finest spell of his career at Leicester City, forming a formidable centre-back partnership with Wes Morgan. Together, they played a crucial role in the Foxes’ extraordinary title triumph – an achievement so improbable at 5000/1 that even the expert tipsters at FIRST.com wouldn’t have seen it coming.
Didi Hamann
Didi Hamann joined Newcastle United in 1998 and spent more than a decade in the Premier League, the bulk of which came at Liverpool.
The midfielder made 191 league appearances for the Reds, scoring eight goals, including the 2003-04 BBC Goal of the Season for a stunning strike against Portsmouth.
His biggest accomplishment on Merseyside was winning the Champions League in 2004-05. Hamann’s introduction at half-time helped turn the game on its head, as Rafael Benitez’s side came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties.
Michael Ballack
Widely regarded as one of Germany’s all-time greats, Michael Ballack brought quality and leadership to the Chelsea midfield in 2006.
Ballack played an influential role in Chelsea’s 2009-10 title-winning campaign under Carlo Ancelotti before rejoining Bayer Leverkusen.
Most impressive about Ballack was his ability to contribute in both defence and attack. He scored 17 Premier League goals and provided 10 assists, while also acting as a shield for the back four at times.
His goal record for Germany was outstanding. Ballack netted 42 times in 98 caps for Die Mannschaft.
