From Chalamet to Billie Eilish: The Celebrities Drawn to Bundesliga Jerseys

German football does not only captivate loyal fans in the stadiums, but also a string of global celebrities. In recent years, from Hollywood actor Timothy Chalamet to singer Billie Eilish, a number of international celebrities have been photographed wearing jerseys or club gear from the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2.

This phenomenon shows that the Bundesliga has an appeal that goes beyond geographical borders. Clubs such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Fortuna Düsseldorf have become magnets for entertainment and sports stars from around the world. For example, NFL star Christian Gonzalez was seen wearing Luis Díaz's Bayern Munich jersey during a New England Patriots game in October 2026, a day after Díaz scored a hat-trick against RB Leipzig. Both share Colombian heritage.

Timothy Chalamet also drew attention when he wore Bayern Munich gloves in December 2025. Meanwhile, the music group Backstreet Boys performed in Fortuna Düsseldorf jerseys during six shows at the Merkur-Spielarena, Düsseldorf, in September-October 2026. Not to be outdone, Billie Eilish was seen supporting Borussia Dortmund in a black-and-yellow jersey when they faced Freiburg at the end of the 2024/25 season, coinciding with her brief European tour in Berlin and Cologne.

Musician Ed Sheeran, who holds a minority stake in English club Ipswich Town, was also once seen wearing a Fortuna Düsseldorf jersey while performing at the Merkur Spiel-Arena. Meanwhile, Louis Tomlinson, former member of One Direction, showed his support for Dortmund by wearing this season's home Cup jersey. Rapper Kendrick Lamar has also been recorded wearing a red Bayern Munich jersey.

Collaborations between clubs and celebrities are not always coincidental. In 2020, Bayern Munich took part in adidas's Human Race initiative, with Pharrell Williams as a guest designer who created a special jersey collection. Meanwhile, legendary boxers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko once wore Schalke 04 jerseys, in 2009 and 2010 respectively, after fighting in Gelsenkirchen.

“German football has a unique appeal for global celebrities, and this is a valuable asset for expanding market reach,” said a sports marketing observer, as quoted from an industry source.

This phenomenon also occurs in Bundesliga 2. On matchday 6 of the 2025/26 season, WWE legend Bret 'The Hitman' Hart visited Kaiserslautern when the club beat Preußen Münster 4-1. Hart's visit to Germany was for a trading card event. Meanwhile, legendary singer Bob Marley once wore a Hamburg jersey in the 1979/80 season, and his grandson preferred the red Bayern jersey.

For Indonesia, this trend opens opportunities for Bundesliga clubs to market themselves more aggressively in the Southeast Asian market. With a large football fan population and high interest in pop culture, collaborations with Indonesian celebrities or celebrity-themed events can be an effective strategy to increase local fan engagement. In addition, clubs can explore partnerships with Indonesian musicians or actors to release limited-edition merchandise.

Going forward, the link between the entertainment world and football is expected to grow even closer. Clubs may increasingly invite celebrities as brand ambassadors or guests of honor, not only to attract media attention but also to strengthen their global identity. The question is, how far will Bundesliga clubs go in using this phenomenon to win the hearts of fans in Indonesia and Southeast Asia?