This summer, Borussia Dortmund announced Felix Nmecha, the first expensive new signing – but how have BVB’s record transfers fared so far? Checking out the top 20.
20th place: THOMAS DELANEY
2018/19, €20m from Werder Bremen: Went straight ahead in his strong debut season, had to sit out almost completely in his second year due to injury. Moved to Sevilla FC in 2021. Grade: 3.5.
20th place: MAXIMILIAN PHILIPP
2017/18, 20 million euros from SC Freiburg: He was unable to confirm his strong performances for Freiburg in Dortmund. After two years (19 points in 51 games) he went to Moscow for 20 million, meanwhile in Wolfsburg. grade: 5
20th place: AXEL WITSEL
2018/19, 20 million euros from Tianjin Tianhai: Set under Favre thanks to strong performances in his first year, his claim as a leading player then became less and less true and left this summer. Grade: 3.5.
20th place: NICO SCHLOTTERBECK
2022/23, 20 million euros from SC Freiburg: Came to Dortmund as one of the Bundesliga shooting stars, where he was initially seeded. After a muscle fiber tear, he lost his regular place in the spring. Note 3.
20th place: ERLING HAALAND
2019/20, €20m from Red Bull Salzburg: 85 goals in 88 games speak for themselves. With his move to Manchester City for 85 million euros, BVB made a good buck in the summer. A great deal. Note 1.
19th place: JADON SANCHO
2017/18, €20.6m from Manchester City: Enchanted with his dribbling. Scored a total of 50 goals, assisted 65 more and transferred £85m to Manchester on his departure. Note 1.
18th place: PACO ALCACER
2019/20, 21 million euros from FC Barcelona: First shone on loan, then was committed, but only stayed for half a year. Sold to Villarreal for a profit of two million euros. Grade: 2.
17th place: MANUEL AKANJI
2017/18, €21.5m from FC Basel: Acted mostly as a reliable central defender, if not always flawless. Moved to Manchester City in 2022 and won the treble there straight away. Note 3.
16th place: MARIO GÖTZE
2016/17, 22 million euros from FC Bayern Munich: The returnee was never able to meet the high expectations. Many fans still resented his farewell in 2013. Found its old form in Eindhoven, now in Frankfurt. grade: 4
13th place: ANDRIY YARMOLENKO
2017/18, €25m from Dynamo Kyiv: Should follow in Dembele’s footsteps, but mainly revealed playing flaws. After just one season, scoring six goals and six assists in 26 games, he joined West Ham. grade: 5
13th place: EMRE CAN
2020/21, 25 million euros from Juventus: First loaned, then committed. Initially, he repeatedly oscillated between the starting eleven and the bench, as well as between defense and midfield. In the second half of last season, however, he developed into a regular and leading player. Note 3.
13th place JULIAN BRANDT
2019/20, €25m from Bayer Leverkusen: For three years he was looking for consistency and his right position before he really blossomed last season. This now needs to be confirmed. Note 3.
10th place: MARCIO AMOROSO
2001/02, 25.5 million euros from AC Parma: The then record deal led BVB to the UEFA Cup final with their goals. But after serious injuries and a public mud fight, his contract was terminated in 2004. Grade: 2.
10th place: NICO SCHULZ
2019/20, €25.5 million from TSG Hoffenheim: An expensive misunderstanding. Always thrown back by injuries, weak in his missions. The signs have been pointing to separation for a long time – but there is no buyer. grade: 6
10th place: THORGAN HAZARD
2019/20, 25.5 million euros from Borussia Mönchengladbach: Played a good first season with 21 points in 43 competitive games, then with fluctuating performances. Hazard’s future is unclear after his loan to PSV Eindhoven. Grade: 3.5.
9th place: HENRIKH MKHITARYAN
2013/14, 27.5 million euros from Shakhtar Donetsk: The Armenian was a top performer in his three years at BVB, contributing 90 goals in 140 games. Then moved on to ManUnited and Roma. Grade: 2.
8th place: ABDOU DIALLO
2018/19, 28 million euros from FSV Mainz 05: The central defender often had to help out at left back and was not happy in Dortmund. Sold to PSG in 2019 with a profit of four million euros. Grade: 4.5.
5th place: ANDRE SCHÜRRLE
2016/17, 30 million euros from VfL Wolfsburg: The then most expensive BVB purchase flopped. Was repeatedly slowed down by injuries, only had 18 goals in 51 competitive games. Quit completely in 2020. grade: 6
5th place: PAINT DONYELL
2021/22, 30 million euros from PSV Eindhoven: Not completely convincing in his changeable debut season with nine goals and six assists in 37 appearances and then had a weak first half of the season. In the past second half of the season he scored in almost every game. Grade: 2.5.
5th place: KARIM ADEYEMI
2022/23, 30 million euros from Red Bull Salzburg: In his first season, he oscillated between the starting XI, the bench and rehab. In the second half of the season he improved and collected many scorer points. Grade: 2.5.
4th place: JUDE BELLINGHAM
2020/21, €30.15m from Birmingham City: Developed into a world-class midfielder at Dortmund. Despite his young age, Bellingham presented himself as impressively calm, most recently even acting as the third captain. Now moved on to Real Madrid for 103 million euros. Note 1.
3rd place: MATS HUMMELS
2019/20, 30.5 million euros from FC Bayern Munich: After his return, he immediately took over the role of leading player again. Had to struggle with knee problems in the meantime, but was a fixed defensive boss again last season. Grade: 2.
2nd place: SÉBASTIEN HALLER
2022/23, 31 million euros from Ajax Amsterdam: Immediately after his arrival, Erling Haaland’s successor got the bad news: testicular cancer. But he was ready for action again at the start of the second half of the season – and then collected a strong 14 points in 22 competitive games. Grade: 2.
1st place: OUSMANE DEMBELE
2016/17, 35 million euros from Stade Rennes: shone with 32 points in 50 games, then ingloriously forced his departure to Barca with a strike, ensuring a whopping transfer plus of over 100 million. Note 1.
