Bundesliga players are more likely to be injured than those in the other five major European leagues, but the Premier League bears the highest injury costs.
Howden’s European Men’s Football Injury Index, in its fourth edition, has revealed an increase in injuries in Europe’s top leagues, with a total of 4,123 in the 2023/24 season, representing an increase of 4% on the previous season and 37% on the 2020/21 season.
Last year, injuries cost clubs 732 million eurosin wages paid to sidelined players, while since 2020/21, the total number of injuries in the five leagues has reached 14,292, generating a financial impact of 2.3 billion euros. The report comes against a backdrop of discussions on the increasing workload of players, exacerbated by additional competitions such as the FIFA Club World Cup and new UEFA tournaments.
The players’ union FIFPRO and the national leagues warn of the possibility of strike action due to the increasing physical demands. Howden’s report highlights that injuries to Premier League players under the age of 21 are becoming increasingly serious, with an average of 44 days off work due to injury.
The report also notes an increase in knee injuries, which totalled 367 cases last season and cost clubs 141 million euros. On average, an injury occurred every 92 minutes in the five leagues, with the Bundesliga recording an injury every 52 minutes.