Bundesliga Teams Face Mixed Fortunes Amid Market Challenges and Internal Turmoil

As of late December 2025, several Bundesliga clubs are grappling with disappointing performances and internal difficulties, reflecting a turbulent period in German top-flight football.

Borussia Mönchengladbach has experienced a steep decline in squad market value, with the total dropping from €342 million in January 2021 to €149 million last Friday, a loss of nearly €200 million or 56.5%. This decline, the most severe in the Bundesliga alongside Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Hoffenheim, starkly contrasts with teams like Bayer Leverkusen, which now leads Gladbach by €296 million. Despite these setbacks, Gladbach holds hope in its youth, with rising values for talents such as Rocco Reitz and Wael Mohya signaling potential rebuilding opportunities.

Werder Bremen, currently 10th in the Bundesliga, exhibits a pattern of inconsistency. The team has achieved some fortunate results, including a last-minute win against Wolfsburg and a late equalizer against Leverkusen, yet also suffered notable losses like the North Derby defeat to Hamburg and a heavy home loss to Stuttgart. Coach Horst Steffen faces criticism for a lack of engaging offensive play, exacerbated by injuries to key players like Mitchell Weiser and underperformance from signings such as Victor Boniface. Steffen remains realistic, aiming to guide the team through a challenging January schedule.

Borussia Dortmund, despite being Christmas vice-champions, confronts internal unrest following a public outburst by star forward Karim Adeyemi, 23. The incident has raised concerns in the club's management and prompted crisis discussions about Adeyemi's future at the club, highlighting off-field challenges amid competitive pressures.

Together, these narratives illustrate the complex blend of sporting challenges and organizational issues confronting these Bundesliga clubs as they approach the new year.