Middle-bracket Earners
Michael Olise (€13.5 million/year): Olise has given Bayern a new breath of fresh air since his arrival. The Frenchman's attacking output and on-field impact solidify him as one of the few elite right-wingers in the world. His rapid rise to stardom quickly made everything the club paid for him a bargain. He should be getting an improved deal anytime soon. And no, he does not have a release clause in his contract.
Verdict: Underpaid
Leon Goretzka (€13 million/year): Has Goretzka been good? Yes, of course. Has he been the game-changer Bayern hoped they would get when giving him this contract? Probably not. Still, Leon Goretzka has been a reliable midfielder for Bayern in the past few years, a true professional with a great work ethic. He's in the last year of his contract, and Bayern should work to trim down his salary a little bit while persuading him to stay.
Verdict: Slightly overpaid
Jonathan Tah (€12 million/year): Being a German international in his prime and a rival's former captain made Jonathan Tah the most well-compensated center-back in the first team. However, the issue with this contract is not the size but the duration of the deal. Tah is 29 and will be 33 at the end of his deal. He is already lacking pace in a high-pressure system right now. In four years' time, things can only get worse, especially for a player who relies heavily on his brute physical attributes.
Verdict: Fairly paid now/Slightly overpaid in the near future
Kim Min-jae (€12 million/year): Kim is a high-IQ defender with excellent physicality. However, he is fairly mistake-prone, which causes Bayern in big matches. With the arrival of Tah, the South Korean center-back is only playing as a backup so far this season. Paying €12 million annually for someone who is considered a third-choice in his position is not something the Bayern board is fond of, leading to some efforts to offload him last summer. However, talent-wise, he is good enough to win back a place in the starting XI, and there is no doubt that he will feature in many key matches for Die Roten this season.
Verdict: Slightly overpaid
Dayot Upamecano (€10 million/year): All of Bayern Munich's three center-backs are relatively in the same salary bracket. Yet, the best player amongst the trio is being paid the least. Upamecano is the nailed-on starter for Bayern Munich in the last couple of seasons and continues to be Kompany's first choice. The French defensive beast only has one year left on his current contract. Bayern is making progress to extend Upamecano's tenure at the Allianz Arena with an improved base salary.
Verdict: Underpaid
Konrad Laimer (€9 million/year): Laimer has been an absolute workhorse and Swiss army knife for Bayern after joining in 2023 on a free. His salary is also relatively sound considering his consistency and productivity on the field. The Austrian is due for an extension soon, with two years left on his contract.
Verdict: Fairly paid
Raphael Guerreiro (€8 million/year): Guerreiro provides a valuable veteran presence in Bayern's locker room. He is also capable of being deployed in different positions across the pitch, much like Laimer, but with fairly modest productivity. €8 million for a backup is quite a hefty number, especially when he also does not contribute to any home-grown quota.
Verdict: Overpaid