“Completely Gaga”
Uli Hoeneß with clear words about transfers
02.09.2025 – 10:19 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The past transfer period of FC Bayern attracted great attention. Now Uli Hoeneß complains bitterly about the market – and that on a very positive evening for him.
Bavaria Honorary President Uli Hoeneß is horrified by the latest developments on the international transfer market. “I was stunned what was going on in international football for the last six or eight weeks,” said the 73-year-old at an event at the German Football League in Berlin.
Hoeneß described the high sums that were moved in the summer transfer window as “completely Gaga” and said: “At some point the citizen says: Are they completely crazy?”
Bavaria recently had failed in advertising around the national players Florian Wirtz, who switched to Liverpool FC, and Nick Woltemade, who is now playing for Newcastle United, because of the financial strength of the English Premier League. The top English clubs spent more than 3.5 billion euros on new additions in summer and set a record.
Hoeneß warned: “It can’t go well.” The Bundesliga is well advised to go its own way and had to take on a leadership role. “We have to show strength and not take the money of the Arabs, the American hedge fund,” said the long-time Bayern manager. The DFL must ensure that the Bundesliga clubs “never have to accept this money”.
Hoeneß declared the record champions from Munich to become an outsider for the upcoming European Cup season. “I am looking forward to this coming season because we like Hoffenheim to the upcoming Champions League season. Nobody expects us,” said the 1974 world champion.
The Hoeneß complaint came on an evening that was actually extremely positive for him. Because the DFL will have the honorary award for his services to German professional football.
Rainer Bonhof, former companion of Hoeneß in the national team, held the laudation. “You captivated millions and gave a face to German football,” he said. In his moody laudation, Bonhof also reminded of the EM final in 1976 and joked about the Bayern maker’s penalty at the time: “The ball was brought back from the ISS crew after years. It is now in Dortmund in the museum and still has wings.”
Hoeneß was grateful for the award. “I am proud to get this title,” said the 73-year-old. It is “a sign that I also tried to give German football something in 50 years. But football gave me everything too.”