"Are they completely mad?" Hoeneß slams English transfer madness | OneFootball

The English Premier League broke all records in the summer of 2025. With nearly 3.5 billion euros spent on transfer fees, more money was spent than ever before. Uli Hoeneß, honorary president of FC Bayern, reacted with sharp criticism, calling it "complete madness."

The Premier League's transfer balance reads like something from another world. According to calculations by the auditing firm Deloitte, the 20 clubs in England's top division invested around 3.5 billion euros in new players. This exceeded the previous record by a whopping 750 million euros. Even after deducting the income from player sales, net spending remains at 1.4 billion euros—a level unmatched in Europe.

For comparison: The Bundesliga reached "only" 856 million euros in the same period. In international comparison, the German elite class continues to fall behind. Especially in Munich, there was much discussion about the transfer situation this summer, but for Hoeneß, it's clear: German football must not follow this arms race.

Hoeneß Speaks Frankly at DFL Gala

At the DFL Gala in Berlin, where he was accompanied through the evening by moderator Esther Sedlaczek and awarded the honorary prize for his life's work, Hoeneß took the floor—and found clear words. "I am speechless about what has happened in international football over the past six to eight weeks," the 73-year-old explained.

He described the immense transfer fees as "completely insane" and warned of the consequences for the sport's acceptance in society. "At some point, the public will say: Are they completely crazy?" said Hoeneß. At the same time, he appealed to the decision-makers in Germany: "We in German football must go our own way. I urge everyone here in the room never to accept the money that spoils everything."

The words of the Bayern honorary president come at a time when the discussion about the 50+1 rule is once again intensifying. While the Premier League and other leagues have long relied on massive investor funds, Germany has so far remained steadfast. The fact that Chancellor Friedrich Merz was also present at the gala and clearly spoke in favor of maintaining the rule is likely to strengthen Hoeneß in his stance.

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