Premier League news: Five stars who were developed in the Bundesliga
While the English Premier League is commonly regarded as the biggest and most financially lucrative football league in the world, the German Bundesliga has built its own reputation for consistently producing top talent.
Over the years, many players who first made their name in Germany have gone on to shine on some of the biggest stages in Europe, including in the Premier League.
Sports News Blitz writer Annika Böttcher looks at five current Premier League stars who first made their mark in the Bundesliga.
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne first arrived in the Bundesliga on loan from Chelsea to Werder Bremen.
He quickly became a regular starter, scoring 10 goals in 33 games and turning heads across Germany.
Despite interest from Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, he returned to Chelsea but found himself stuck on the bench.
Frustrated by a lack of game time, De Bruyne made a permanent move back to the Bundesliga, signing with VfL Wolfsburg.
There, he flourished. In the 2014-15 season, he produced 10 goals and a league-record 22 assists, helping Wolfsburg to a second-place finish and the DFB-Pokal title.
His performances earned him a £55 million transfer to Manchester City in 2015, the most expensive Bundesliga departure at the time.
In Manchester, De Bruyne has since established himself as one of the world's best midfielders.
However, now struggling with injuries, he recently announced that he will be leaving the Citizens at the end of the season.
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Alexander Isak – Newcastle United
Alexander Isak is enjoying a breakout season at Newcastle United, although his journey began in the Bundesliga.
The Swedish striker joined Dortmund from AIK in 2017 with high expectations but mostly played for the club’s U19s and second team in the Regionalliga West.
Despite showing promise, his first-team opportunities were limited. His career only really took off after moving to Real Sociedad in Spain, where he truly began to shine.
Newcastle then brought him to the Premier League in 2022 and, under Eddie Howe, Isak has since blossomed.
This season, he has scored 23 goals in 32 matches, won the Premier League Player of the Month in December, and netted in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, securing Newcastle’s first major trophy in over half a century.
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Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Erling Haaland is perhaps the Bundesliga’s most high-profile recent export.
The Norway striker joined Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg, despite interest from clubs like Juventus and Manchester United, and went on to truly announce himself on the world stage.
His Bundesliga debut was unforgettable, coming off the bench to score a hat-trick in just 23 minutes.
He went on to score seven goals in his first three games, a league record for a debutant, and it was clear that Dortmund would only be a stepping stone in his career.
In 2022, after two great seasons in the Bundesliga, Haaland made the move to City.
His debut season in the Premier League was nothing short of extraordinary.
He became the first player to score hat-tricks in three consecutive home games and played a key role in City’s historic treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Over the following two years, he shattered several Premier League records and recently extended his contract with City until 2034.
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İlkay Gündoğan – Manchester City
Like many others, İlkay Gündoğan made his path to Premier League success via Dortmund.
The midfielder joined the club in May 2011 from Nürnberg and made his Bundesliga debut in the Revierderby against Schalke 04.
By his second season, he had become a key figure in Jürgen Klopp’s midfield – intelligent, composed, and tactically sharp.
That year, Gündoğan helped Dortmund reach the 2013 Champions League final, scoring the equaliser against Bayern Munich in an all-German clash.
Though Dortmund lost the match, his performance on the biggest stage confirmed his world-class status.
He remained at the club for three more seasons, anchoring the midfield with vision and precision.
In 2016, he became Pep Guardiola’s first signing at City. Despite injury setbacks early on, Gündoğan grew into one of the club’s most consistent players.
He went on to win five Premier League titles and captained the side to a historic treble in 2022.
Known for his vision, timing, and ability to dictate tempo, he quietly became one of the defining midfielders of his generation.
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Son Heung-min – Tottenham Hotspur
The South Korean forward joined Hamburger SV’s youth academy as a teenager and was promoted to the first team in 2010.
Hailed as a rising star early in his career, Son gained his first top-flight experience in Hamburg before earning a move to Leverkusen in 2013.
At Leverkusen, he adapted quickly and built a reputation for blistering pace, intelligent movement, and sharp finishing.
His performances in both the Bundesliga and Champions League attracted attention across Europe and, in 2015, he signed for Tottenham Hotspur.
He subsequently helped Spurs reach the Champions League final in 2019 and made history in 2022 as the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot.
Appointed club captain in 2023, he now leads a Tottenham side chasing Europa League silverware.
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