The ten German players who have played for Real Madrid

• Real Madrid is one of the teams every footballer wishes to play for before retiring. The Los Blancos have a good history in football. 
• Real Madrid have signed ten German players. All the German players who have played professional football for Real Madrid have won trophies with the club. 
• Antonio Rudiger is the most recent German player to sign a contract with Real Madrid. 

Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the football world. It is the dream of nearly every footballer to play for a club as big as Real Madrid. 

Real Madrid signs quality players from different countries every summer transfer window. This summer, the Spanish giants have signed Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni. 

Germany is one of the countries which produces top football stars. However, Real Madrid does not share its history with many German players. The Los Blancos have only signed ten German players since it was founded. Antonio Rudiger is the tenth German player to join Real Madrid.

Antonio Rudiger joined Real Madrid this summer. Photo/ Football Espana.

Here are the ten German players Real Madrid have signed over the years. 

1. Gunter Netzer  

Gunter Netzer is the first German to play professional football for Real Madrid. Gunter joined the Los Blancos in the summer of 1973. 

Real Madrid signed Gunter from Borussia Monchengladbach for 36 million pesetas. He left the La Liga giants after three seasons, where he won two league titles and two domestic titles. 

2. Paul Breitner 

Paul Breitner was one of the best players in the German league before joining Real Madrid. He joined the Los Blancos immediately after winning the European Cup with Bayern Munich. 

Paul Breitner was one of the best left-backs in the world during his days. He joined Real Madrid from Bayern in exchange for 90 million pesetas. He spent four seasons in Spain, winning two La Liga titles and a domestic cup with Real Madrid before returning to Germany, where he joined Eintracht Braunschweig in 1977. 

3. Uli Stielike 

Uli Stielike, popularly known as Uli Uli, was one of the most loved players at Real Madrid during his time in Spain. Uli Uli joined Real Madrid from Borussia Monchengladbach for 50 million pesetas. 

The German international spent eight seasons at Real Madrid, winning four league titles, one UEFA Cup and two domestic cups. 

4. Bernd Schuster 

Bernd Schuster is among the few players who have played for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. The German international joined Real Madrid from FC Barcelona in 1988. 

The legendary midfielder had spent eight years at Barcelona before moving to the Los Blancos. Bernd Schuster left Real Madrid in 1990 after falling out with Ramon Mendoza, who was by then the club’s president. Schuster joined Atletico Madrid after leaving Real Madrid. 

5. Bodo Illgner 

Bodo joined Real Madrid from Colognefor on September 2, 1996. The German international was one of the best goalkeepers in the world during his days. 

Bodo spent five seasons at Los Blancos, winning at least a trophy every season. He helped Real Madrid win the European champions in 1998 after 32 years of unsuccessful attempts. He retired in 2001 due to a shoulder injury that had kept him on the sidelines for two seasons. 

6. Christoph Metzelder 

Christoph Metzelder joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2008. Things didn’t work out for him at Real Madrid as expected due to injuries. 

Christoph made just 30 appearances for the Los Blancos in his three years at the club. 

7. Sami Khedira

Sami Khedira signed for Real Madrid in 2010 from VfB Stuttgart. He spent five seasons with Real Madrid winning La Liga, two Copa del Reys, Champions League and Supercopa de Espana.

Khedira retired in 2021 after spending a season with Hertha BSC. 

8. Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil is undoubtedly one of the greatest midfielders the world has ever seen. The German international joined Real Madrid in 2011 for 18 million euros. 

Ozil left Real Madrid in 2013 and joined Arsenal so he could have more playing time ahead of the 2014 World Cup. The genius won a La Liga, Supercopa de Espana and a Copa del Rey with the Los Blancos.

Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil. Photo/ The Mirror.

9. Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world. The German international joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich for 25 million euros. 

Kroos is currently in his ninth season with the Spanish giants. He has won 16 titles since joining the Los Blancos. 

10. Antonio Rudiger

Antonio Rudiger is the most recent German player to join Real Madrid. The centre-back joined the La Liga giants this summer from Chelsea on a free transfer. 

Rudiger has played in several pre-season friendlies and is yet to make his official debut with Real Madrid.