They left, they saw, and they failed: the prodigal sons of the Bundesliga

They left, they saw, and they failed: the prodigal sons of the Bundesliga October 23, 2026 "Not all that glitters is gold," says the proverb. Such words have been the cruel reality for Bundesliga players who went abroad and, instead of the also famous *veni, vidi, vici* ("I came, I saw, I conquered"), tasted the bitter honey of disappointment. They left, they saw, and they failed. The trend is becoming significant, insofar as the Bundesliga itself has transformed into a selling market for players, especially to the Premier League. The latter, for its part, was not content with betting on almost guaranteed successes (Erling Haaland, for example), but instead embarked on a costly path of experimentation, and even risk. Thus, the English league pulled out its bulging wallet and "combed" through the German market. And the latter, for its part, gladly took the bait at the acidic scent of "easy money." We have already spoken here about the symptomatic Eintracht Frankfurt. But cases also arise like that of Christopher Nkunku, who left RB Leipzig for Chelsea in 2023 with a market value of 80 million. The signing didn't take hold, and by 2025 his value had dropped by more than 50%. The "flop" was consolidated at AC Milan, who now intend to get rid of him. The contempt is apparently mutual, and Nkunku aspires to stay with the Red Bulls. Another case is that of fellow Frenchman Mousa Diaby, who in four years with Bayer Leverkusen seemed to have everything to succeed in a new stage. He didn't manage it. The devilish winger hovered at Aston Villa, whose skilled negotiators managed to sell him a year later to Al-Ittihad of the Saudi league, with a profit of 5 million euros. That value was adjusted sharply downward when he was transferred back to Leverkusen. By then, like Nkunku, his fee was already worth half. And of course, among the "prodigal sons" of the Bundesliga is "Toothless" Niclas Füllkrug, who bet heavily by going to West Ham in 2024, coming from Borussia Dortmund. Füllkrug, whom football rewarded in an advanced stage of his career, traveled to England for 27 million euros—a very modest amount by Premier League standards, but double the real market value of this footballer. To make matters worse, West Ham agreed to sign a contract until 2028 with a player over 31 years old. In a league of greater intensity, the attacker began to suffer injuries and also failed to achieve the necessary continuity. He was loaned to AC Milan before his return to Werder Bremen. Is there failure in courage? Perhaps the most surprising thing about these stories is not their common suspicion of failure, but the outcome they have had upon landing again in German football. The recessive Nkunku broke out against Eintracht, scoring a hat-trick that keeps him among the top scorers of the Bundesliga in the current tournament. Then he vanished ominously against Bayern in Munich and Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. Diaby, for his part, has only one goal in his return to Leverkusen in five matches. The Frenchman is no longer one of the most prominent in a reformed and rejuvenated squad. Diaby leaves sporadic impressions of danger, but with a now limited expectation. In attack, others are the ones who shine: the Czech Patrick Schick, who never listened to the siren song of the British, and the promising Ibrahim Maza, whom the nereids could soon envelop. With more modest prospects, Füllkrug seems to be finding joy again at the club of his heart. His return has meant goals for Werder Bremen, and above all, points. Along with Schick, "Toothless" leads the Bundesliga scoring list at matchday 6, also with 6 goals. With barely two fewer, Harry Kane awaits the next Bayern Munich rout to catch up to him, and perhaps surpass him. So, united in disappointment, the "prodigal sons" of the Bundesliga are experiencing different days in their return to German football. Nkunku, Diaby, Füllkrug, and others like Sheraldo Becker (who tried his luck at Real Sociedad of San Sebastián and Osasuna of Pamplona before returning to Mainz) are not subjects of promise, but "damaged goods," products with expired dates in the showcase of the voracious international market. To such players, the first thing one should do is congratulate them for their warrior courage. In the Bundesliga, not everyone who has the opportunity to leave accepts the challenge of testing themselves in more demanding leagues, where the probability of failing is greater. They didn't make it, but at least they tried. They might not be the only ones. International Nick Woltemade is a strong candidate to swell the ranks of travelers who return to German football without triumphs in their suitcase. Another is Florian Wirtz, whom at times it seems not low performance (which he does not have) but the crushing weight of expectation overcomes. Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you trust this site to obtain reliable information, please take a moment to select us as your preferred source on Google: click here and check the box or press the DW.com button to always see our verified news in your preferences.