-
News
- 1 hours ago
€330m profit on FLOPS: Where are Frankfurt's big-money strikers now?
Tom Weber
- Updated: 18 Aug 2025 20:13 BST
- 6 min read
Analysis
Eintracht Frankfurt have established themselves as one of Europe's most interesting clubs.
The well-supported Bundesliga side are known in the industry as elite talent producers and even better sellers. In recent years, Frankfurt's main claim to fame has been refining strikers and making huge profits from cashing in on them.
This reputation is merited: over the past six years, Frankfurt have made a profit of over €330 million just from centre-forwards alone. Hugo Ekitike became the latest big-money export, joining Liverpool for up to €95 million earlier this summer.
The Frenchman has been an immediate success at Anfield, scoring in the Community Shield and Premier League opener. However, what makes Frankfurt's exploits even more incredible is the fact that, unlike Ekitike, most of the big-money strikers they sold have actually failed to live up to the hype.
Let's investigate...
Luka Jovic to Real Madrid (€63m)
Serbia international Luka Jovic scored a whopping 27 goals in the 2018/19 season at just 21 years of age. These numbers saw him attract the attention of European giants, and Real Madrid ultimately took a punt on the youngster.
However, Jovic proved to be an almighty disappointment in the Spanish capital. He cost €63 million but managed to score just three goals in 51 appearances for Los Blancos.
He left Real Madrid for Fiorentina in 2022 and joined AC Milan as a wildcard signing for €500,000 a year later. He has now joined AEK Athens on a free transfer after two underwhelming years at the San Siro.
Sebastian Haller to West Ham (€50m)
A few days after Jovic joined Real Madrid, Sebastian Haller moved to West Ham in a €50m deal, having scored 20 goals in 41 appearances for Eintracht in 2018/19.
It has since been a similar story to Jovic. Haller struggled at West Ham but managed to revive his career at Ajax. However, a subsequent move to Borussia Dortmund did not work out, also influenced by the fact that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which sidelined him for months.
After loans at Leganes and Utrecht, he has now joined the latter permanently on a free transfer. It will be the Ivorian's third stint with the Eredivisie side.
Andre Silva to RB Leipzig (€23m)
Andre Silva has experienced a career of incredible ups and humiliating downs. After breaking through at Porto, he joined AC Milan for a whopping €38m but never managed to find a home in Italy.
Nevertheless, Frankfurt saw something in him and signed him for just €3m after initially taking him on loan. Silva would ultimately leave the Eagles having scored 45 goals and provided 15 assists in 71 games.
He joined RB Leipzig for €23m in 2021 but has never been able to match his previous form. Deemed surplus to requirements, he has now joined promoted LaLiga minnows Elche for €1m after loans at Real Sociedad and Werder Bremen.
Randal Kolo Muani to PSG (€95m)
In the summer of 2022, Frankfurt took a chance on Nantes forward Randal Kolo Muani, who joined the German side on a free transfer. It would turn out to be one of the best pieces of business ever.
Kolo Muani was in inspired form in the Bundesliga and even managed to play his way into France's 2022 World Cup squad. He left after just one year and completed a gargantuan €95m move to PSG in 2023.
However, he failed to have the same impact in his hometown. Kolo Muani lost his clinical edge under Luis Enrique and eventually fell out of favour. He spent the second half of 2024/25 on loan at Juventus and is expected to leave PSG permanently this summer.
Omar Marmoush to Man City (€75m)
Like Kolo Muani, Omar Marmoush arrived at Frankfurt for nothing and would go on to fetch a massive fee. He joined the club after failing to live up to his potential at Wolfsburg, brought about by the fact that it wasn't clear what his best position was.
This was also initially the case at Frankfurt as Marmoush was not viewed as the main man for the attack, instead playing all over the frontline. However, it eventually became clear that the Egyptian could be transformed into a clinical striker, and he exploded in the first half of 2024/25.
Marmoush racked up a stunning 20 goals and 14 assists in 26 games, which earned him a €75m move to Man City in January. He hasn't quite been able to match these insane numbers at the Etihad, but he has become a reliable player for Pep Guardiola.
Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool (€95m)
The most recent striker to leave Frankfurt for big money was Hugo Ekitike, who joined reigning Premier League champions Liverpool for €95m after 18 months in Germany.
The Frenchman arrived in January 2024, having spent six months in Parisian no man's land after being deemed surplus to requirements by PSG. It took a while for Ekitike to get back to full fitness and match sharpness, but he began properly firing in 2024/25.
He scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists for Frankfurt, initially playing alongside Marmoush and then as the lone forward. He thrived in both roles due to his unique combination of physical prowess, excellent technical ability, playfulness and intelligence.
Football transfer news headlines today
DONE DEALS: Every official completed transfer around Europe today
Alexander Isak signs for Liverpool and five transfers to be completed this week
Lassana Diarra sues FIFA: €65m case will change the transfer market forever
Fabrizio Romano drops BOMBSHELL Eberechi Eze update as transfer decision confirmed
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:
