Borussia Dortmund are one of Germany’s most prestigious football clubs, known for their passionate fan base, strong youth development, and consistent presence in the UEFA Champions League.
Dortmund have established a reputation of astuteness in the transfer market, often focusing on young, emerging talents who can be developed into world-class players and this strategy has yielded tremendous profit for them over the years.
Soccernet.football takes a look at some of the most expensive transfer signings in Dortmund’s history.
10. Henrikh Mkhitaryan – €27.5m (2013)
Mkhitaryan joined Borussia Dortmund from Shakhtar Donetsk for a then-record fee of €27.5 million. At the time, this transfer made Mkhitaryan the most expensive signing in the club’s history. The Armenian midfielder proved to be a really good signing as he scored 41 goals across a three-year stint before being sold for profit. Mkhitaryan has since turned out for Man United, Arsenal, Roma and currently plays for Inter Milan where he won the Scudetto last season.
9. Abdou Diallo – €28m (2018)
Diallo moved from FSV Mainz 05 to Borussia Dortmund for €28 million in 2018, bolstering the club’s defense. After 28 Bundesliga appearances, he made the switch to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 for a reported €32 million, yielding a small profit for the German side.
8. Felix Nmecha – €30m (2023)
Nmecha was one of the Bundesliga’s most promising midfield talents when he joined Borussia Dortmund from VfL Wolfsburg for a €30 million fee in 2023. However, he has yet to establish himself as a regular starter, raising questions about his ability to meet the expectations that accompany his high price tag.
7. André Schürrle – €30m (2016)
The experienced winger moved to Borussia Dortmund from Wolfsburg for a €30 million fee in 2016. However, his time at the Signal Iduna Park did not go as planned with the German managing a meagre 8 goals and 6 assists in all competitions across two seasons. Schürrle eventually went on loan to Fulham and Spartak Moscow in 2018 and 2019 respectively, before retiring in 2020 at the age of 29.
6. Donyell Malen – €30m (2021)
Malen transferred from PSV Eindhoven to Borussia Dortmund for €30 million in 2021, arriving with high expectations. Although the Dutchman has shown potential to become one of the Bundesliga’s top players, his inconsistent performances have drawn criticism from the German media, with some questioning his attitude.
5. Karim Adeyemi – €30m (2022)
Adeyemi joined Borussia Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in 2022, tasked with filling the void left by Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland. While he has yet to consistently meet expectations, the 22-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance that excite Dortmund fans about his future. Whether this future will be at the Signal Iduna Park remains to be seen as the German has been heavily linked with a move to Turin giants Juventus all summer.
4. Jude Bellingham – €30.15m (2020)
The England international made the move from EFL Championship club Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2020 to further his development and enhance the team’s midfield creativity. Bellingham quickly became a key player, earning a place in the England national team before transferring to Real Madrid for a whooping €103 million, with potential add-ons raising the fee to €133.9 million.
3. Mats Hummels – €30.5m (2019)
Hummels returned to Borussia Dortmund in 2019 after three successful years at Bayern Munich for a fee of €30.5 million, bringing leadership and defensive stability to the team. The Germany international went on to captain Dortmund during their remarkable 2024 Champions League run to the final in Wembley before starring for the German national team at the 2024 European Championships on home soil.
2. Sébastien Haller – €31 million (2022)
The Ivorian joined Borussia Dortmund from Ajax in 2022 after rediscovering his form following a challenging period with Premier League side West Ham United. Despite personal struggles, including overcoming testicular cancer, Haller contributed 9 goals in the Bundesliga last season and also scored Cote D’Ivoire’s winning goal against Nigeria in the Afcon final.
1. Ousmane Dembélé – €35 million (2016)
Dembélé moved from Rennes to Borussia Dortmund in 2016 for a club-record €35 million fee which remains BVB’s most expensive transfer expenditure till date. After just one season in the Bundesliga, Dembélé became a prime example of Dortmund’s talent development model when he was sold to FC Barcelona for a jaw-dropping €135 million in 2017. The France international now plies his trade at the Parcs des Princes for Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona last summer.