“Strikers always attract the spotlight,” admits Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung, reflecting on the club’s remarkable track record of transforming attacking talent into major transfer profits.
Over the past six years, Frankfurt have generated close to £300m from forward sales — a figure that underscores their reputation as one of Europe’s most efficient talent-developing clubs. “Scoring goals is the hardest part of the game,” says Hardung. “Naturally, strikers draw attention. But we’ve succeeded in improving players across all positions.”
That statement rings true. Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho, for example, joined from Royal Antwerp in 2023 for just under £12m and was sold to Paris Saint-Germain a year later for nearly £35m. Yet it’s the club’s consistent ability to nurture attacking players that truly defines them.
From Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller to Randal Kolo Muani, Omar Marmoush, and most recently Hugo Ekitike, Frankfurt have built a model that rewards patient development and precise recruitment.
When Ekitike arrived on loan from PSG in early 2024, his confidence and rhythm had been shaken by limited game time. Frankfurt saw potential where others saw a struggling prospect.
“We recognised his strengths and believed he fit perfectly into our playing style,” Hardung explains. “He just needed the right platform and a clear pathway.”
After making his move permanent, Ekitike thrived — scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists in the Bundesliga last season. Among players aged 23 and under in Europe’s top five leagues, only a handful contributed to more goals.
Ekitike’s all-round game improved dramatically. Despite slightly underperforming his expected goals tally (xG) by 6.6, he created more open-play chances, took more shots, and scored more fast-break goals than any other Bundesliga forward. He also ranked fifth in dribbles completed.
“It took hard work on both sides,” Hardung reflects. “He had to accept tough feedback — not always easy to hear — and respond with effort and focus. That honesty helps players grow.”
Behind the scenes, Frankfurt have invested heavily in what Hardung calls the “team around the team” — a multidisciplinary group including video analysts, performance coaches, psychologists, and nutritionists.
“The closer you get to your ceiling, the more every percentage point matters,” he says. For Ekitike, that meant adapting to the intensity of Bundesliga football, with its relentless running and physical duels.
“Players have to be able to sprint and press throughout 90 minutes — and still have the energy to score in the 80th or 90th minute,” Hardung notes.
Coaches worked closely with Ekitike on fine details — such as positioning in the box, identifying shooting zones that matched his profile, and recognising spaces that could make him more dangerous.
Ekitike’s £69m move to Liverpool came just six months after Omar Marmoush joined Manchester City for £59m. It was another example of English clubs tapping into the Bundesliga’s pipeline of technically gifted, high-intensity players.
“We’re an intense league,” says Hardung. “Premier League clubs see that players who perform here can adapt quickly.”
Still, he insists Frankfurt are not driven by profit alone. “We’re not focused on selling — we want to be competitive,” he emphasises. “We’re a big, traditional, ambitious club. The best way for us to succeed is by developing players, because we can’t spend like others.”
That philosophy has yielded tangible success. Frankfurt lifted the Europa League in 2022 and finished third in the Bundesliga last season — equalling a club record — with one of the league’s youngest squads.
Hardung describes Frankfurt’s transfer strategy as both data-driven and human-focused. Once the transfer window closes, preparation for the next one begins.
Using proprietary algorithms and key performance indicators, Frankfurt’s analytics team monitors global talent to identify players who fit specific needs. “Once the data flags a player, our scouting department digs deeper — watching film, analysing technical footage, and finally assessing live,” Hardung explains.
The process culminates in a short list of serious candidates who match the club’s identity and tactical style. Recent signing Jonathan Burkardt, who replaced Ekitike, is a case in point — the 25-year-old arrived from Mainz for £18m and has already scored seven goals in eight matches across all competitions.
For young players and their representatives, Frankfurt’s track record speaks volumes. “When you can show players real examples of development — that we don’t just talk about pathways, we deliver them — it builds trust,” Hardung says.
Underlying everything is a grounded sense of identity. “We know who we are, where we come from, and what our strengths are,” Hardung adds. “That humility keeps us sharp — and makes life difficult for so-called bigger teams.”
As Ekitike returns to Deutsche Bank Park in Liverpool colours, Frankfurt’s formula for success stands clear: honest feedback, relentless improvement, and a culture built on ambition without ego.
“The goal,” concludes Hardung, “is always to be a little better than yesterday. If we keep that culture alive, we’ll always be hard to beat.”
