The 10 best former Bundesliga players in the Premier League

Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (R) celebrates scoring their third goal for 3-1 with Manchester City's German midfielder Leroy Sane (L) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 1, 2018. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (R) celebrates scoring their third goal for 3-1 with Manchester City's German midfielder Leroy Sane (L) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 1, 2018. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 09: Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Aston Villa at The King Power Stadium on March 9, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 09: Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Aston Villa at The King Power Stadium on March 9, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images) /

8. Caglar Soyuncu – Leicester City – Joined from Freiburg in 2018

Soyuncu’s Leicester City career had a slow start in the 2018-19 season, after his £19 million transfer from Freiburg in the Bundesliga. However, the Turkish international has been superb this season, particularly between August and the New Year.

While he might not be in with a team of the season shout anymore, Soyuncu has proven to be a bargain for the Foxes, and he looks like a player that can anchor down their backline for years and years to come.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) goalkeeper Bernd Leno of Arsenal FC gestures during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) goalkeeper Bernd Leno of Arsenal FC gestures during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /

7. Bernd Leno – Arsenal – Joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2018

Arsenal desperately needed a goalkeeping upgrade on the aging Petr Cech, and boy, did they get exactly that with Bernd Leno in 2018. The once highly-rated German international had started to plateau in the Bundesliga, but his £22.5 million transfer to the Gunners gave his career a spark.

Now, Leno is one of the standout goalkeepers in the Premier League, arguably surpassing the likes of Lloris and De Gea in terms of performances over the past 2 seasons. He stands as one of the best pieces of business Arsenal have pulled off in recent memory.

https://twitter.com/ArsenalFC_fl/status/1260567057160077320

MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 26: Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Bernabeu on February 26, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 26: Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Bernabeu on February 26, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

6. Ilkay Gundogan – Manchester City – Joined from Borussia Dortmund in 2016

One of the more underrated players in the Manchester City team, due to often being outshined by the likes of De Bruyne and Bernardo, is German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. The former Dortmund star moved to Manchester City in 2016 following a bit of a plateau in form in the Bundesliga, and has had a successful career, most notably under Pep Guardiola.

Although he does not crack the top 5, Gundogan can be considered one of the more successful Bundesliga-to-Premier League transfers in recent years, as he has been a reliable performer for Manchester City, helping them to 2 titles.

HONG KONG, HONG KONG – JULY 24: Leroy Sane of Manchester City warming up during the preseason friendly match between Kitchee and Manchester City at the Hong Kong Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Hong Kong. (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
HONG KONG, HONG KONG – JULY 24: Leroy Sane of Manchester City warming up during the preseason friendly match between Kitchee and Manchester City at the Hong Kong Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Hong Kong. (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /

5. Leroy Sane – Manchester City – Joined from Schalke in 2016

In the same summer that Manchester City poached Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund, they also managed to snap up young Leroy Sane from their rivals, Schalke 04. While Sane has been injured all season and is being linked heavily with a move back to the Bundesliga to join Bayern Munich, his performances between 2017 and 2019 in particular, earn him a strong position on this list.

Sane has become one of the most exciting players in the Manchester City team, although they haven’t quite missed a beat without him, with Mahrez, Sterling, and Bernardo Silva still working their magic. We might be seeing the last little stretch of Leroy Sane in the City blue, but what a career he has had already.