With Hugo Ekitike set to join Liverpool, Eintracht Frankfurt’s remarkable business model continues to shine, with the German club generating around Ksh52 billion in profit from striker sales alone since the 2019–20 season.
From Luka Jović to Randal Kolo Muani, and now Ekitike, Frankfurt has mastered the art of buying low, developing talent, and selling high, a strategy that has made them one of Europe’s smartest operators in the transfer market.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Striker Sale Masterclass (2019–2025)
Over the last six years, Frankfurt has quietly built one of the most efficient striker pipelines in European football.
Here are the key deals that shaped their success:
Luka Jović → Real Madrid (2019)
Luka Jovic initially joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan from Benfica in 2017, with a mandatory purchase clause triggered in 2019 for Ksh302,000.
In the 2018/2019 season, Jović scored 27 goals in all competitions, including 10 in the Europa League, helping Frankfurt reach the semifinals.
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His performances turned him into one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers, with Real Madrid beating out several clubs for his signature.
In June 2019, Jović was sold to Real Madrid for Ksh9 billion, making Frankfurt a net profit of Ksh8.7 billion.
Although Jović struggled in Madrid, the deal was a financial and strategic win for Frankfurt, showing they could develop and sell elite talent to top clubs.
Sébastien Haller → West Ham (2019)
Sebastian Haller joined Frankfurt from FC Utrecht in 2017 for Ksh 1 billion.
Haller was part of Frankfurt’s famous attacking trident alongside Luka Jović and Ante Rebić during the 2018–19 season.
Together, they tore through Bundesliga and Europa League defenses, leading Frankfurt to the Europa League semifinals.
After scoring 20 goals and 12 assists in 41 games during his final Frankfurt season, Haller earned a big-money move to the EPL, again showcasing the club’s ability to develop and showcase strikers for top-tier clubs.
He transferred to West Ham FC in July 2019 for Ksh7.5 billion, a then-club-record signing for West Ham.
Although Haller struggled to justify the fee at West Ham and was later sold to Ajax, Frankfurt had already locked in the Ksh6.5 billion profit.
The deal emphasized their strategy: develop, sell high, reinvest.
The funds from Haller’s sale helped Frankfurt:
- Reinforce their squad
- Balance books post-COVID
- Invest in long-term targets like Kolo Muani and Jesper Lindstrøm
Ante Rebić ↔ André Silva (Swap + Sale)
Ante Rebić had joined Frankfurt permanently from Fiorentina in 2018 after a successful loan.
He played a key role in the club’s 2017–18 DFB Pokal win and the 2018–19 Europa League run, forming a deadly trio with Luka Jović and Sébastien Haller.
In September 2019, Rebić joined AC Milan on a two-year loan. In return, Frankfurt received André Silva from Milan, also on a two-year loan.
In 2020, both deals were made permanent with no cash exchanged publicly, making it a direct swap.
Andre Silva scored 28 Bundesliga goals, finishing second only to Robert Lewandowski and breaking Frankfurt’s single-season Bundesliga scoring record.
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After two prolific seasons, Frankfurt sold Silva to RB Leipzig for Ksh3.5 billion, all pure profit.
Randal Kolo Muani → Paris Saint-Germain (2023)
Kolo Muani was signed on a free transfer from FC Nantes in July 2022, after his contract expired.
In just his first season at Eintracht, Kolo Muani exploded, scoring 26 goals and 17 assists in all competitions.
He earned a call-up to France’s 2022 World Cup squad, where he played in the final.
After just one season, Paris Saint-Germain signed Kolo Muani for Ksh14 billion (11 billion + 3 billion in bonuses) making it one of the biggest transfers in Bundesliga history.
Signing Kolo Muani for free, with minimal wage costs relative to output, is one of the best-value deals in modern European football.
From Ksh0 to Ksh14 billion in just over 12 months, this deal alone accounted for over a quarter of Frankfurt’s total striker profit in the 2019–2025 window.
Hugo Ekitike → Liverpool (2025)
Hugo Ekitike was signed from Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan with a Ksh2.4 billion option to buy, which Frankfurt exercised in early 2025 after a solid loan season.
Ekitike adapted quickly to the Bundesliga, offering physical presence, hold-up play, and finishing.
He scored 3 goals and 6 assists in all competitions, filling the gap as Frankfurt’s leading striker after Kolo Muani’s departure.
Ekitike attracted Premier League interest with standout performances in Europe and domestically, finally agreeing to join Liverpool in July 2025.
The deal was valued at Ksh7.5 billion, Frankfurt making a profit of nearly Ksh4 billion on a striker they held for just one year, again proving their sharp eye for value.
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