Luxury Villa of World Champion Mertesacker Up for Auction
Hannover - A lavish villa in Hannover, originally intended to be the new residence of football World Champion Per Mertesacker, is set to be auctioned. The former national player commissioned the construction of this dream house in the Döhren district of his hometown, featuring a sprawling 875 square meters of living space, an elevator, terraces overlooking the nearby recreational area of Leinemasch, a private garden house, and an autolift capable of accommodating six vehicles. The total land area spans an impressive 2,417 square meters, providing ample room for Mertesacker, his wife, and their five children.
The property consists of three separate living units, as reported by the Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung: a spacious main apartment of 362 square meters, a penthouse covering 380 square meters, and a smaller unit of 207 square meters. However, this prestigious property is now going under the hammer on the luxury auction platform Sotheby's in London.
Originally, Mertesacker planned to return to Hannover after retiring from professional football, where he started his career at Hannover 96. Since 2018, he has been managing the youth academy at Arsenal FC in London, and he intends to remain in the British capital for the time being. His brother, Timo Mertesacker, who has been involved in overseeing the villa project, indicated that the family is committed to staying in London, especially as Mertesacker's eldest son is preparing to complete his Abitur there.
The villa, which has just been completed, is listed at a price of EUR8.5 million. Bidding is set to commence on May 15, with a live auction scheduled for May 29 in London. The current highest bid will automatically set the minimum price; if it falls short, the family reserves the right to withdraw from the sale. Sotheby's anticipates that initial bids will range between EUR4 million and EUR6 million. To promote the villa, a meticulously produced promotional video showcases the property alongside an Aston Martin, classical music, and sweeping camera angles highlighting its sunlit interiors.
This auction marks a significant moment, as the Mertesacker villa is the first German property ever featured on Sotheby's platform, which adheres to stringent luxury criteria for listings. Only about five percent of applicants meet the platform's standards. Timo Mertesacker expressed pride in this achievement, referring to the villa as a "hidden gem."