Rising Incidence and Cost of Injuries in Europe’s Elite Football Leagues

A recent report has revealed that Bundesliga players in Germany suffer the highest rate of injuries among Europe’s top five football leagues. However, when it comes to the financial impact of these injuries, England’s Premier League leads the pack.

Understanding the Injury Statistics in European Football

The latest edition of Howden’s Men’s European Football Injury Index indicates an increasing trend in the number of injuries reported in the Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Ligue 1, and Serie A. The combined number of injuries for the 2023-24 season stood at 4,123 – a 4% increase from the 2022-23 season and a staggering 37% rise from the 2020-21 season.

The Financial Impact of Injuries on Clubs

These injuries have proven to be extraordinarily costly for the clubs, with the combined cost for the last season amounting to €732 million ($797.73 million) in wages paid to players on the sidelines. Since the inaugural edition of the report in 2020-21, a total of 14,292 injuries have been recorded in Europe’s top leagues, costing the clubs a whopping €2.3 billion in players’ salaries.

Player Welfare and the Risk of Strike Action

This report is particularly timely as the concern for player welfare becomes increasingly prominent in light of FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup and UEFA’s revamped club competitions, which add more games to an already crowded domestic schedule. Both FIFPRO Europe and the domestic leagues have hinted at the possibility of players resorting to strike action due to the intensified pressure.

James Burrows, Head of Sport at Howden, pointed out that the data reflects the escalating physical pressure on players. He mentioned, “The rise in fixture congestion due to expanded competitions at both domestic and international levels is resulting in more players being out of action for longer periods. This is evident in the 5% surge in injury-related costs this season alone.”

Detailed Analysis of the Injury Statistics

The report discloses a concerning surge in the severity of injuries, particularly among Premier League players under the age of 21. Each injury in this group equates to approximately 44 days out of action, a significant increase from the average of 26.5 days in 2022-23. Furthermore, knee injuries reached a new peak last season, with 367 cases across the top leagues, costing clubs a combined €141 million.

Injuries: A Closer Look at the Figures

In the last season, an injury was recorded every 92 minutes across the five leagues, translating to an average cost of €172,975 per game. Bundesliga clubs suffered an injury every 52 minutes, with Darmstadt experiencing one every 33 minutes. Borussia Monchengladbach became only the second team ever to log over 100 injuries in a season since the report’s inception.

The Premier League’s Injury Costs

Interestingly, the number of injuries in the Premier League decreased from 944 in 2022-23 to 915 in 2023-24. However, the Premier League accounted for 44% of the total injury costs across the five leagues last season. In monetary terms, Premier League clubs spent a total of €318 million on injuries, far more than LaLiga’s €142 million.

Club-Specific Injury Costs

Manchester United had the highest injury cost in the Premier League last season, shelling out €39 million for 75 injuries. Newcastle United, on the other hand, had the highest number of injuries with 76. In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich’s 96 injuries cost the club €39 million, while league winners Bayer Leverkusen had just 36 injuries, costing a comparatively lower €3.45 million.