The Lowest Paid Player at Every Bundesliga Club – Ranked from Lowest to Highest
The Bundesliga is home to some of Europe’s most exciting football, but not every player is earning a superstar paycheck. While top clubs invest heavily in marquee names, many players across the league are still working their way up on modest salaries.
We’ve taken a closer look at the lowest-paid player at each Bundesliga club—highlighting the often-overlooked side of life at the top level. From academy graduates to fringe squad members, here’s how much they’re earning.
Augsburg
Augsburg continues to prioritize youth development while operating on one of the Bundesliga’s leanest wage bills. The club gives young prospects valuable minutes without overspending.
Noahkai Banks – £1,653 per week / £86,000 per year
Still early in his career, Banks earns one of the lowest salaries in the league. His contract reflects Augsburg’s emphasis on financial discipline and long-term growth.
Bayer Leverkusen
Despite their wealth of stars, Leverkusen maintains opportunities for academy graduates and young players on modest wages. Their blend of elite and emerging talent keeps them competitive.
Luca Novodomsky – £2,313 per week / £121,000 per year
Novodomsky is already part of the senior setup and climbing the ranks. His wage mirrors Leverkusen’s trust in internal development and smart squad building.
Bayern Munich
Germany’s top club features world-class earners and youth prospects alike. Many of their future stars begin their careers on surprisingly modest deals.
Tarek Buchmann – £2,481 per week / £129,000 per year
A promising defender, Buchmann is part of the club’s next generation. His current deal reflects his development phase and Bayern’s structured approach to youth.
Bochum
Bochum has built a team identity rooted in hard work and modest budgets. Their players are often underrated but determined to prove themselves.
Moritz Broschinski – £1,984 per week / £103,000 per year
Broschinski is a squad regular on a humble contract. His work ethic and reliability perfectly match Bochum’s fighting spirit.
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund continues to combine established stars with rising talent. Their salary structure reflects the wide range of experience across the squad.
Silas Ostrzinski – £2,810 per week / £146,000 per year
As a young goalkeeper, Ostrzinski is learning within one of Europe’s top academies. His salary fits his role as a developing prospect in a star-studded squad.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt has grown in stature and ambition, but they still offer chances to emerging players on reasonable wages.
Igor Matanovic – £4,631 per week / £241,000 per year
Despite being Frankfurt’s lowest-paid player, Matanovic earns a solid salary. His deal reflects the club’s increased financial standing in recent seasons.
Freiburg
Freiburg has become a model of sustainability, consistently promoting youth and controlling spending. Their structure favors stability over flash.
Bruno Ogbus – £2,810 per week / £146,000 per year
Ogbus represents Freiburg’s homegrown philosophy. He earns a typical Freiburg wage as he works toward a regular first-team role.
Heidenheim
One of the Bundesliga’s smallest clubs, Heidenheim operates with discipline and a clear developmental strategy.
Christopher Negele – £2,150 per week / £112,000 per year
Negele’s wage reflects Heidenheim’s financial realism. He’s part of a squad that prioritizes structure and progress over high spending.
Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim blends veteran presence with young talent on affordable wages. Their approach to sustainability remains key to long-term success.
Lúkas Petersson – £1,984 per week / £103,000 per year
Petersson’s salary is modest, fitting his current role and age. His path mirrors that of many Hoffenheim players who rise through the system.
Holstein Kiel
In their first-ever Bundesliga season, Kiel are keeping costs down while relying on young, hungry players.
Tyler Doğan – £1,653 per week / £86,000 per year
Doğan earns one of the lowest wages in the league, but Kiel sees massive potential. He’s a symbol of their youth-driven strategy.
RB Leipzig
Leipzig continues to invest smartly in youth, balancing high-end contracts with affordable deals for up-and-comers.
Viggo Gebel – £3,141 per week / £164,000 per year
Still on the rise, Gebel is viewed as a long-term asset. His salary reflects his position as a player with upside in Leipzig’s system.
Mainz
Mainz remains committed to nurturing talent from within while maintaining financial discipline. Their developmental model is widely respected.
Maxim Dal – £3,637 per week / £189,000 per year
Dal is on a solid salary for a young player looking to break through. He embodies Mainz’s vision of steady progression through the ranks.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
In a rebuilding phase, Gladbach is leaning on youth and lower salaries. The club is focused on developing its next generation.
Shio Fukuda – £2,313 per week / £121,000 per year
Fukuda is still early in his professional journey, but the club has high hopes. His wage reflects his potential and place in the rebuild.
St. Pauli
New to the Bundesliga, St. Pauli relies on team spirit and financial restraint. They offer real chances to hungry, undervalued players.
Abdoulie Ceesay – £2,313 per week / £121,000 per year
Ceesay is earning a respectable wage as he steps into the Bundesliga spotlight. His role could grow quickly with consistent performances.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart has a strong academy tradition and regularly promotes talent on entry-level deals. Their model focuses on development, not stars.
Luca Raimund – £1,984 per week / £103,000 per year
Raimund is steadily working his way up through the ranks. His modest contract reflects Stuttgart’s commitment to homegrown success.
Union Berlin
Union has risen through discipline and togetherness—not financial power. Even with European appearances, they maintain a careful wage structure.
David Preu – £1,653 per week / £86,000 per year
Preu earns a low salary, but he’s a key part of the club’s long-term project. Union believes in steady development over quick fixes.
Werder Bremen
Bremen, steeped in tradition, builds from the ground up with affordable contracts for young talent. Patience and opportunity define their strategy.
Abednego Nankishi – £1,488 per week / £77,000 per year
The Bundesliga’s lowest-paid player, Nankishi is still full of promise. His current deal shows that raw potential can be developed on a budget.
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg’s youth system regularly supplies the first team with players on smaller wages. Their balance between ambition and development is key.
Mathys Angély – £1,653 per week / £86,000 per year
Angély may earn modestly, but being in a Bundesliga squad is already a major milestone. He’ll be aiming for both minutes and a new deal.
