Kimmich on transfer madness: "The figures are hard to grasp" | OneFootball

The 2025 transfer period has ended with record sums. Especially in the Premier League, billions were moved. Joshua Kimmich, captain of the German national team and key player at FC Bayern, has now commented on the developments – and expressed great incomprehension.

In response to SPORT1's inquiry before the start of the World Cup qualification in Slovakia, Kimmich explained: "Even we can't really grasp the sums, we can't really influence them either. It's difficult to put the whole thing into perspective."

The 30-year-old pointed out that such transfer sums are "ultimately also the market." Nevertheless, it remains difficult for professionals to comprehend how much prices have recently risen. "It is hard for us players as well as for the average fan to grasp how much is being paid for a player."

Premier League as Price Driver

The English league stands out in particular. "In the Premier League, financial resources are available through ownership and TV money. They can apparently pull the sums out of their sleeves quite easily," said Kimmich.

The record sums in England are also reflected in the big deals of the summer. With Florian Wirtz, a German national player moved from Bayer Leverkusen to FC Liverpool for up to 150 million euros. Nick Woltemade transferred from VfB Stuttgart to Newcastle United for 90 million euros.

Both players were previously on FC Bayern's list. However, the Munich club had to concede to the financial superiority of the Premier League.

For the record champions, the summer was already marked by complicated negotiations. Although they were able to present four new signings with Luis Díaz, Jonathan Tah, Tom Bischof, and Nicolas Jackson, the Munich team repeatedly hit a wall with excessive demands. Especially with players like Wirtz or Woltemade, the financial dimensions were simply not feasible.

Kimmich's statements reflect the internal view at Bayern: The club cannot and does not want to invest in the same sums that are paid in England. Instead, they are trying to find smarter solutions and focus on sustainability.

Kimmich's words also highlight a danger for the entire sport. If even players find the sums "hard to grasp," it is likely no different for many fans. Uli Hoeneß and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen have recently emphasized that the risk of losing the foundation of the sport is growing.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.