Borussia Dortmund's 23 most expensive transfers of all time [ranked]

Borussia Dortmund are on the cusp of finishing outside of the top three in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2017. Although Germany looks set to get an extra UEFA Champions League slot, it will come as a disappointment for BVB fans for falling behind Bayer Leverkusen, a lacklustre Bayern Munich, VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig.

This transfer window will be pivotal if Dortmund are to seriously challenge for the Bundesliga title once again.

We use this moment as a chance to reflect on Borussia Dortmund's most expensive transfers of all time, looking at the club record transfers of past and present.

Whilst they may not be able to spend as big as the Premier League, Dortmund's transfer strategy has centred around buying young players who they can develop in one of Europe's most impressive sporting arenas, Signal Iduna Park.

23. Axel Witsel

Position: Defensive Midfield

Nationality: Belgium, Martinique

From: Tianjin Tianhai (China)

Season: 18/19

Transfer Fee: €20 million

Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel arrived at Borussia Dortmund from China in 2018. Witsel turned down a move to Juventus before making his big-money move to Tianjin Tianhai in China, but just 18 months later the wheels of the China Super League were falling off. Borussia Dortmund took a risk in signing Witsel for a reported €20 million, considering the level of football in China was well below that of the Bundesliga. But class is permanent, and Witsel brought experience and defensive prowess to Dortmund's midfield before he moved on a free transfer in 2022.

22. Nico Schlotterbeck

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: Germany

From: SC Freiburg (Germany)

Season: 22/23

Transfer Fee: €20 million

Promising German defender Nico Schlotterbeck, 24, joined Borussia Dortmund from SC Freiburg in 2022. Schlotterbeck has gone on to prove his worth at Dortmund, forming a formidable partnership with Mats Hummels at the back.

21. Erling Haaland

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: Norway

From: Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

Season: 19/20

Transfer Fee: €20 million

Erling Haaland made a sensational move from Red Bull Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund, with BVB successfully fending off interest from many clubs across Europe to sign the Norweigan. Haaland typifies a golden era of Borussia Dortmund, with his partnership with Jadon Sancho proven to be unstoppable. Haaland won the DFB-Pokal in 2021 with Borussia Dortmund, he was the Champions League top scorer in the 20/21 season with 10 goals, and was the Bundesliga top scorer and player of the season in the same year. Haaland then made the move to Manchester City in 2022 for just €60 million due to a release clause in his contract.

20. Jadon Sancho

Position: Left Winger

Nationality: England, Jamaica

From: Manchester City U18 (England)

Season: 17/18

Transfer Fee: €20.59 million

Jadon Sancho joined Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City U-18s, bringing his electrifying pace and dribbling skills to the Bundesliga. His partnership with Erling Haaland was telepathic, with the pair striking fear in the hearts of the opposition with their blistering pace and ability to be clinical on the counter. Dortmund reluctantly sold Sancho to Manchester United for a reported €85 million. Sancho returned to Signal Iduna Park in 2024 on loan to refind his form and love for the game, with the winger expressing that the return felt like a homecoming.

19. Paco Alcácer

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: Spain

From: FC Barcelona (Spain)

Season: 19/20

Transfer Fee: €21 million

Spanish striker Paco Alcácer arrived at Borussia Dortmund from FC Barcelona, initially on a lengthy loan spell. His ability to lead the line and his clinical finishing led to the Spaniard's best goalscoring season, scoring 18 goals in 26 games. But after making the move permanent in 2019 for a reported €21 million, Alcácer struggled for game time and was subsequently sold to Villareal for a similar fee just a year later.

18. Manuel Akanji

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: Switzerland, Nigeria

From: FC Basel 1893 (Switzerland)

Season: 17/18

Transfer Fee: €21.5 million

Ball-playing defender, Manuel Akanji, was signed by Dortmund for a substantial €21.5 million fee. Akanji enjoyed five incredible years at BVB, before being sold with such a year left on his contract for a reported €18 million fee.

17. Mario Götze

Position: Attacking Midfield

Nationality: Germany

From: Bayern Munich (Germany)

Season: 16/17

Transfer Fee: €22 million

Mario Götze returned to Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich, aiming to recapture his creative spark and contribute to the team's attacking fluidity. Götze had mixed success at Dortmund, with the midfielder never really able to find the form that made him one of Germany's biggest prospects earlier in his career. Götze would move to PSV Eindhoven on a free transfer in 2020.

16. Andriy Yarmolenko

Position: Right Winger

Nationality: Ukraine

From: Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine)

Season: 17/18

Transfer Fee: €25 million

Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmolenko joined Borussia Dortmund from Dynamo Kyiv for €25 million, only to be sold a year later for €20 million to West Ham after contributing 3 goals and 2 assists in the Bundesliga.

15. Emre Can

Position: Defensive Midfield

Nationality: Germany, Türkiye

From: Juventus FC (Italy)

Season: 20/21

Transfer Fee: €25 million

Versatile midfielder Emre Can arrived at Borussia Dortmund from Juventus FC for a reported €25 million fee. Emre Can has gone on to feature in over 160 games for Borussia Dortmund, including their spectacular UEFA Champions League run in 2024, where he captained the side.

14. Julian Brandt

Position: Attacking Midfield

Nationality: Germany

From: Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Germany)

Season: 19/20

Transfer Fee: €25 million

Creative German midfielder, Julian Brandt made his high-profile move from Bayer Leverkusen to Borussia Dortmund in 2019 for a reported €25 million to unlock defences with his vision and technique in the final third.

13. Márcio Amoroso

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: Brazil, Italy

From: AC Parma (Italy)

Season: 01/02

Transfer Fee: €25.5 million

Márcio Amoroso, the talented Brazilian striker, joined Borussia Dortmund from AC Parma in 2001 for €25.5 million. Amoroso would go on to score 43 goals in 89 matches for BVB.

12. Nico Schulz

Position: Left-Back

Nationality: Germany

From: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany)

Season: 19/20

Transfer Fee: €25.5 million

Nico Schulz, the dynamic German full-back, moved from Hoffenheim to Borussia Dortmund for €25.5 million in 2019, adding attacking impetus and defensive solidity to the team's left flank.

11. Thorgan Hazard

Position: Left Winger

Nationality: Belgium

From: Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)

Season: 19/20

Transfer Fee: €25.5 million

Borussia Dortmund paid €25.5 million to sign Thorgan Hazard from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2019. Hazard went on to play probably the best football of his career in the famous Black and Yellow colours of Dortmund.

10. Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: Armenia

From: Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Season: 13/14

Transfer Fee: €27.5 million

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a versatile Armenian midfielder, arrived at Borussia Dortmund from Shakhtar Donetsk for a staggering €27.5 million fee. At the time, the €27.5 million paid by BVB made Mkhitaryan the all-time club record signing.

9. Abdou Diallo

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: Senegal, France

From: 1.FSV Mainz 05 (Germany)

Season: 18/19

Transfer fee: €28 million

Commanding centre-back Abdou Diallo made his significant move from Mainz to Borussia Dortmund, adding strength and composure to Dortmund's defence. After 28 Bundesliga appearances, Diallo was sold for a small profit in 2019 to Paris Saint-Germain for a reported €32 million fee.

8. Felix Nmecha

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: Germany, England

From: VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)

Season: 23/24

Transfer Fee: €30 million

Felix Nmecha is one of the most promising midfielders in the Bundesliga. But having made his move to Borussia Dortmund from VfL Wolfsburg for a reported €30 million fee, Nmecha has yet to establish himself as a Dortmund regular starter, throwing into question his ability to cope with the high price-tag and expectations that come with it.

7. André Schürrle

Position: Left Winger

Nationality: Germany

From: VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)

Season: 16/17

Transfer Fee: €30 million

Seasoned German winger, André Schürrle, enjoyed success early in his career with Chelsea in the Premier League before moving to Wolfsburg. Borussia Dortmund bought the winner from Wolfsburg for a reported €30 million fee, with the German international playing a big role at the club before moving back to London to play for Fulham on loan in 2018.

6. Donyell Malen

Position: Right Winger

Nationality: Netherlands, Suriname

From: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)

Season: 21/22

Transfer Fee: €30 million

Donyell Malen, similar to Nmecha, had to cope with high expectations as well as a high price tag after making the move from PSV Eindhoven to BVB for €30 million. Malen has the potential to become one of the best players in the Bundesliga, but has faced criticism from the German media for his inconsistent performances, with some even questioning the youngster's attitude.

5. Karim Adeyemi

Position: Left Winger

Nationality: Germany, Nigeria

From: Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

Season: 22/23

Transfer Fee: €30 million

Karim Adeyemi made a significant move from Red Bull Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund, in 2022. Malen signed for Dortmund with big shoes to fill, as the club was now missing the combined attacking flair of Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland. Whilst his story is similar to Donyell Malen's, Adeyemi hasn't yet been able to consistently hit the levels that were expected from him when he made the move to Signal Iduna Park. The young German international does however show flashes of utter brilliance, which will make Dortmund fans very excited about his future.

4. Jude Bellingham

Position: Attacking Midfield

Nationality: England, Ireland

From: Birmingham City (England)

Season: 20/21

Transfer Fee: €30.15 million

Jude Bellingham joined Borussia Dortmund from EFL Championship Birmingham City, aiming to continue his development and contribute to the team's midfield creativity and energy. Bellingham would go on to become a club legend at Dortmund in such a short space of time, with the midfielder cementing his place in the England national team, before moving to Real Madrid for a reported €103 million which could rise to €133.9 million in performance-based odd-ons.

3. Mats Hummels

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: Germany

From: Bayern Munich (Germany)

Season: 19/20

Transfer Fee: €30 million

Mats Hummels, like so many others, returned 'home' to Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich, bringing his leadership and defensive solidity to the team's backline. Hummels would go on to captain Dortmund on their incredible 2024 Champions League run to the final in Wembley, making timeless defender Hummels priceless in the eyes of many Dortmund fans.

2. Sébastien Haller

Position: Centre-Forward

Nationality: Cote d'Ivoire, France

From: Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Season: 22/23

Transfer Fee: €31 million

Sébastien Haller, a powerful striker, joined Borussia Dortmund from Ajax Amsterdam after the Ivory Coast international refound his goalscoring form after a dismal stint in the Premier League with West Ham United. The striker has faced many personal issues, including overcoming testicular cancer, and was able to contribute 9 goals last season in the Bundesliga.

1. Ousmane Dembélé

Position: Right Winger

Nationality: France

From: Stade Rennais FC (France)

Season: 16/17

Transfer Fee: €35 million

Ousmane Dembélé made the move from French side Rennes to Borussia Dortmund in 2016 for a club record signing of €35 million. Dembélé became the success story of Borussia Dortmund's model of developing great young talent, when the club sold him for a reported €135 million to FC Barcelona in 2017 after just one season in the Bundesliga.

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