Top 10 Highest-Scoring German Players in Premier League History
German football has produced some outstanding players, but only a select group have left a lasting mark on the Premier League.
Some arrived as established international stars, others developed into influential performers in England, while a few made their names through goals, assists or important contributions to successful teams.
Kai Havertz now leads the way. His goal for Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield took him to 46 Premier League goals, moving him above former Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan, who had held the record with 45.
The pair headline a list that spans several generations of German football. Mesut Özil brought creativity to Arsenal, Jürgen Klinsmann made an immediate impression at Tottenham Hotspur, and Uwe Rösler became a popular figure at Manchester City.
More recently, Leroy Sané and Kevin Schade added their names to the ranking. Here are the 10 highest-scoring German players in Premier League history, ranked by goals scored in the competition.
Top 10 German Goalscorers in Premier League History
Rank | Player | Appearances | Goals |
1 | Kai Havertz | 172 | 46 |
2 | İlkay Gündoğan | 221 | 45 |
3 | Pascal Groß | 256 | 34 |
4 | Mesut Özil | 184 | 33 |
5 | Uwe Rösler | 103 | 29 |
6 | Jürgen Klinsmann | 56 | 29 |
7 | Leroy Sané | 90 | 25 |
8 | Kevin Schade | 111 | 24 |
9 | Robert Huth | 322 | 21 |
10 | Lukas Podolski | 60 | 19 |
1. Kai Havertz – 46 Goals
Kai Havertz became the highest-scoring German player in Premier League history after finding the net for Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield in November 2026. His finish secured a 1–0 victory and took his league tally to 46 goals, one ahead of the previous record held by İlkay Gündoğan.
Havertz began his Premier League career at Chelsea, joining the club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. Although he was capable of operating in midfield and across the attacking line, his time in England increasingly saw him take on more advanced roles.
He scored 19 Premier League goals during three seasons at Stamford Bridge. His most memorable contribution for Chelsea came in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final, when he scored the winning goal against Manchester City.
A £65 million move to Arsenal followed in June 2023. Initially, his role in Mikel Arteta's side attracted debate, but he gradually became an important attacking option, particularly when deployed centrally. His 13-goal Premier League return in the 2023–24 season remains his best campaign in the competition.
Of his 46 league goals, 19 came for Chelsea and 27 for Arsenal. At 27, Havertz has the opportunity to extend his lead and establish a record that could take some time to challenge.
2. İlkay Gündoğan – 45 Goals
Before Havertz moved to the top of the ranking, İlkay Gündoğan held the record as the highest-scoring German in Premier League history. He scored 45 goals in 221 appearances across two spells with Manchester City.
Gündoğan joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016 and became a key part of Pep Guardiola's midfield. His game was built around intelligent movement, close control and an ability to arrive in the penalty area at the right moment.
Although primarily a central midfielder, he regularly contributed goals. His timing in and around the box made him particularly effective against teams defending deep, while his composure also proved valuable in important matches.
Gündoğan captained Manchester City during the 2022–23 campaign, leading the club to a historic Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble. He also scored twice in the 2023 FA Cup final against Manchester United.
His 45 Premier League goals reflected a midfielder who offered much more than control and distribution. For several years, he was the benchmark for German goalscorers in the competition.
3. Pascal Groß – 34 Goals
Pascal Groß ranks third with 34 Premier League goals in 256 appearances, all scored during his time with Brighton & Hove Albion. The midfielder joined Brighton from FC Ingolstadt in 2017, ahead of the club's first season in the Premier League.
He quickly became an important player under Chris Hughton and remained a regular presence through several changes of manager. Groß is not a conventional goalscoring midfielder.
His strengths include passing range, vision, set-piece delivery and the ability to find space between opposition lines. However, he has also contributed consistently in front of goal, often arriving late in the penalty area or taking advantage of opportunities around the box.
His influence at Brighton extended beyond his goal tally. He became one of the club's most dependable performers, helping them establish themselves in the Premier League and qualify for European competition for the first time.
After a spell with Borussia Dortmund, Groß returned to Brighton, adding another chapter to a career closely associated with the club.
4. Mesut Özil – 33 Goals
Mesut Özil scored 33 Premier League goals in 184 appearances for Arsenal between 2013 and 2021. He was one of the most technically gifted German players to feature in the competition, although his reputation was built as much on creating chances as scoring them.
Arsenal signed Özil from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day in September 2013. The move brought a World Cup-winning playmaker to the Premier League and gave Arsène Wenger a creative presence capable of changing the rhythm of a match.
Özil's vision, first touch and ability to play incisive passes made him a natural fit for Arsenal's attacking style. He often operated behind the striker, looking to create openings with through balls and combinations around the penalty area.
His Premier League record included 57 assists, a figure that highlights his importance as a creator. His 2015–16 campaign was particularly productive, with Özil providing 19 league assists and becoming one of the competition's leading creative players.
He also helped Arsenal win three FA Cups during his time in North London. Although his final seasons at the club were less influential, his best performances remain among the most memorable displays by a German playmaker in the Premier League.
5. Uwe Rösler – 29 Goals
Uwe Rösler scored 29 Premier League goals in 103 appearances, most of them during his time at Manchester City in the 1990s. The German striker joined City from 1. FC Nürnberg in 1994 and quickly became a popular figure at Maine Road.
He brought energy, physical presence and a natural instinct for finding the net, qualities that made him a useful attacking option during a challenging period for the club. Rösler's best Premier League season came in 1994–95, when he scored 15 goals.
His performances helped establish him as one of City's most important attacking players, and he became a favourite among supporters.
He later played for Southampton, making 23 Premier League appearances without adding to his goal tally. His overall total therefore came from his time at Manchester City.
Rösler's place in this ranking is a reminder of the German players who made their mark in the Premier League before the competition became the global attraction it is today.
6. Jürgen Klinsmann – 29 Goals
Jürgen Klinsmann scored 29 Premier League goals in just 56 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur across two spells. His return places him alongside Uwe Rösler, despite playing considerably fewer matches.
Klinsmann arrived at Tottenham from Monaco in 1994, bringing a major international reputation to English football. The forward had already established himself as one of Germany's leading players and was part of the national team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
His first season in north London was highly productive. Klinsmann scored 20 Premier League goals in the 1994–95 campaign, quickly winning over supporters with his movement, finishing and ability to link play.
He returned to Tottenham on loan during the 1997–98 season after spells with Bayern Munich and Sampdoria. Although his second spell was shorter, he scored nine goals in 15 league appearances and helped the club move away from relegation trouble.
Klinsmann's scoring rate is particularly impressive. His 29 goals came in fewer than 60 appearances, giving him one of the strongest goals-per-game records among the players in this top 10.
7. Leroy Sané – 25 Goals
Leroy Sané scored 25 goals in 90 Premier League appearances for Manchester City. The winger joined the club from Schalke 04 in 2016 and became part of a side that transformed English football under Pep Guardiola.
Sané's greatest strengths were his acceleration, direct running and ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations. Operating mainly from the left flank, he could stretch opposition defences, cut inside onto his stronger foot and create chances for teammates.
He played an important role in Manchester City's domestic success, winning two Premier League titles in the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons. His 10 league goals in each of those campaigns demonstrated his contribution to a team that set exceptionally high standards.
Sané left Manchester City for Bayern Munich in 2020, bringing his Premier League career to an end. His 25 goals may not match the totals of the players above him, but his impact was about more than finishing. He offered pace and unpredictability in one of the league's most dominant attacking teams.
8. Kevin Schade – 24 Goals
Kevin Schade has scored 24 Premier League goals in 111 appearances for Brentford, placing him among the most productive German players in the competition's history.
The forward joined Brentford from SC Freiburg in 2023, initially on loan before the move became permanent. His pace, physical attributes and willingness to attack space have made him a useful option in the club's forward line.
Schade offers a different profile from several of the more established names on this list. Rather than operating primarily as a playmaker or central midfielder, he is a direct attacking player who looks to run beyond defenders and create opportunities through movement.
His goal tally is particularly notable given his age and the relatively short period he has spent in English football. At 24, he also has time to improve his position in the ranking.
Brentford's attacking approach gives him opportunities to use his speed and movement, and he remains one of the German players in the top 10 with the potential to add significantly to his Premier League total.
9. Robert Huth – 21 Goals
Robert Huth is the only defender in this top 10, having scored 21 Premier League goals in 322 appearances. His position among the competition's leading German goalscorers reflects a long career in English football and an unusual ability to contribute at the other end of the pitch.
Huth arrived in England as a young player and became best known for his time with Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Leicester City. A powerful centre-back, he was particularly dangerous from set-pieces, using his strength and aerial ability to threaten opposition defences.
He won two Premier League titles with Chelsea before becoming part of the Leicester City side that produced one of the greatest achievements in the competition's history.
Huth played a key role in Leicester's remarkable 2015–16 title-winning campaign.
His defensive partnership with Wes Morgan helped provide the foundation for a team that defied expectations and won the league.
His best individual goalscoring season came in 2010–11, when he scored six Premier League goals for Stoke City under Tony Pulis. For a centre-back, that was a significant return and helps explain his place in this ranking.
10. Lukas Podolski – 19 Goals
Lukas Podolski completes the list with 19 Premier League goals in 60 appearances for Arsenal. The forward joined Arsenal from FC Köln in 2012 after establishing himself as a prominent member of the German national team.
Podolski was known for his powerful left foot, direct shooting, and ability to operate across the front line, providing Arsenal with another attacking option. He made an immediate impression in English football, scoring important goals during his first season.
His finishing ability was particularly evident when cutting inside from the left, where he could unleash powerful shots with relatively little backlift. Podolski's time at Arsenal also brought an FA Cup winner's medal in 2014.
He later spent time on loan at Inter Milan before leaving the club permanently. Although his Premier League career was shorter than those of several players above him, his 19 goals in 60 appearances represent a strong scoring return.
Which German Player Has Scored the Most Premier League Goals?
Kai Havertz is the highest-scoring German player in Premier League history, with 46 goals in 172 appearances. He moved ahead of İlkay Gündoğan, who previously held the record with 45 goals in 221 matches for Manchester City.
Pascal Groß occupies third place with 34 goals, followed by Mesut Özil on 33. Uwe Rösler and Jürgen Klinsmann share fifth place with 29 goals each.
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