Teams in the bottom half of the German Bundesliga table have had their fair share of financial struggles over the last decade or so, with many of their talented stars leaving the shores for bigger wages or getting poached by the mighty FC Bayern Munich.
With all that struggle, how much are some of those lying at the foot of the wage bill making? In this listicle, we’ll take a look at the ten 1. Bundesliga players who earn the least from their playing wages.
Note: In line with the figures from Capology, we use the Euro (€) as the currency, and only verified profiles have been considered for this list.
Also read: Top 10 highest-paid footballers in the world right now
Gross p/w: €46,538 | Gross p/y: €2.42 million
The 28-year-old Swiss right-back, on loan from Fulham FC, has spent much of his senior career playing for clubs in England, Germany, and Switzerland.
With a gross salary of €46,538, Mbabu is the tenth lowest-paid player in 1. Bundesliga.
Gross p/w: €41,536 | Gross p/y: €2.16 million
After a successful loan spell with VfB Stuttgart last season, Guirassy had his move made permanent by Die Schwaben in May 2023 after the two parties agreed on signing a three-year contract until June 2026.
The Guinea international has been simply sensational in the first half of this season. Guirassy is currently on a mad scoring spree, having already produced 15 goals and two assists in just 9 appearances and leading the Bundesliga top goal-scorers list ahead of Bayern’s Harry Kane.
Gross p/w: €38,462 | Gross p/y: €2 million
Marvin Freidrich, a 27-year-old German centre-back, plays as a first-team player for Borussia Mönchengladbach. Following four impressive seasons with Union Berlin, Freidrich joined Gladbach on a permanent deal in January 2022.
Gross p/w: €36,538 | Gross p/y: €1.9 million
Bouna Sarr is a 31-year-old Senegal international who plays for Bayern. Despite being a versatile player who can play both as a right-back and a right-winger, since joining the club back in October 2020, he hasn’t been able to cement a place in the star-studded Bayern side.
With his contract expiring at the end of this season, Sarr has only had 15 appearances in a Bayern shirt in three-and-a-half years.
Gross p/w: €36,346 | Gross p/y: €1.89 million
This former Ukraine international is currently on a season-long loan spell at Bochum from Russian Premier League side FC Dynamo Moscow.
Gross p/w: €34,615 | Gross p/y: €1.8 million
32-year-old Stefan Bell is in his 14th year as a loyal employee of 1. FSV Mainz 05. Since making his senior debut in 2010, the German centre-back has gone on to represent Mainz in over 260 matches across all competitions, with a couple of loan spells to fellow German clubs in between.
With Bell’s contract set to expire in June 2024, it’ll be interesting to see whether Mainz decide to keep hold of one of their longest-serving players.
Gross p/w: €28,846 | Gross p/y: €1.5 million
Tuta is a 24-year-old Brazilian centre-back currently playing for Eintracht Frankfurt.
A regular starter for Die Adler, Tuta’s contract is set to expire in June 2026.
Gross p/w: €28,846 | Gross p/y: €1.5 million
Japhet Tanganga is a 24-year-old English defender on loan at Augsburg from Tottenham Hotspur FC.
A Spurs youth product, Tanganga made his senior debut in 2019. He has since then only featured 26 more times for Spurs, leading to a season-long loan in Germany for regular game time.
Gross p/w: €28,846 | Gross p/y: €1.5 million
Daniel Peretz is a 23-year-old Israeli goalkeeper who joined FC Bayern Munich as one of their reserve-choice goalkeepers in 2023.
Tied to a five-year deal with the club, Peretz is currently getting paid €28,846/week.
Gross p/w: €23,654 | Gross p/y: €1.23 million
After six years in England playing for the likes of AFC Bournemouth and Sheffield United FC, 27-year-old French forward Lys Mousset joined Bochum in August 2022.
Currently tied to a two-year deal with the club until June 2024, Mousset’s €23,654-a-week salary makes him the lowest-paid player in the German Bundesliga topflight.
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| Rank | Player | Team | Salary (p/w) |
| 10 | Kevin Mbabu | FC Augsburg | €46,538 |
| 9 | Serhou Guirassy | VfB Stuttgart | €41,536 |
| 8 | Marvin Freidrich | Borussia Mönchengladbach | €38,462 |
| 7 | Bouna Sarr | FC Bayern Munich | €36,538 |
| 6 | Ivan Ordets | VfL Bochum 1848 | €36,346 |
| 5 | Stefan Bell | 1. FSV Mainz 05 | €34,615 |
| 4 | Tuta | Eintracht Frankfurt | €28,846 |
| 3 | Japhet Tanganga | FC Augsburg | €28,846 |
| 2 | Daniel Paretz | FC Bayern Munich | €28,846 |
| 1 | Lys Mousset | VfL Bochum 1848 | €23,654 |
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