The Best and Worst Transfers in Bundesliga History
The Bundesliga has witnessed some of the greatest transfers in football history, but also some of the biggest flops. From Robert Lewandowski to Jann-Fiete Arp, explore the best and worst transfers in Bundesliga history.
The Best and Worst Transfers in Bundesliga History
Introduction
The Bundesliga is home to some of the greatest clubs and players in world football. Over the years, teams like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen have made incredible signings that transformed their clubs. However, not every transfer is a success—some big-money signings have completely flopped.
In this article, we will explore the best and worst transfers in Bundesliga history. We will look at players who became legends and those who failed to meet expectations.
The Best Transfers in Bundesliga History
These players exceeded expectations and became some of the most successful signings in Bundesliga history.
1. Robert Lewandowski (2014 – Free Transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich)
Lewandowski’s move from Dortmund to Bayern was one of the best free transfers in football history. He became the most dominant striker in Bundesliga history.
🏆 Trophies Won:
- 8 Bundesliga titles
- 1 Champions League
- 3 DFB-Pokal Cups
⚡ Why This Transfer Was Legendary:
- Scored 344 goals in 375 appearances for Bayern
- Won 2 European Golden Shoes
- Broke Gerd Müller’s Bundesliga single-season goal record (41 goals in 2020-21)
2. Arjen Robben (2009 – €25M from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich)
Arjen Robben’s arrival at Bayern changed the club’s European destiny. His pace, dribbling, and finishing helped Bayern dominate Germany and Europe.
🏆 Trophies Won:
- 10 Bundesliga titles
- 1 Champions League
- 5 DFB-Pokal Cups
⚡ Why This Transfer Was Legendary:
- Scored the winning goal in the 2013 Champions League final
- Formed an iconic duo with Franck Ribéry (Robbery)
- Became one of Bayern’s greatest-ever players
3. Kevin De Bruyne (2014 – €22M from Chelsea to Wolfsburg)
De Bruyne struggled at Chelsea but became a superstar at Wolfsburg, winning the Bundesliga Player of the Year award in 2015.
🏆 Trophies Won:
- 1 DFB-Pokal
- 1 DFL-Supercup
⚡ Why This Transfer Was Legendary:
- Registered 21 assists in the 2014-15 Bundesliga season (a league record at the time)
- Helped Wolfsburg qualify for the Champions League
- Earned a €75M move to Manchester City, where he became one of the world’s best midfielders
4. Erling Haaland (2020 – €20M from RB Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund)
Haaland arrived in Germany as a promising young striker and left as one of the most feared forwards in world football.
🏆 Trophies Won:
- 1 DFB-Pokal
⚡ Why This Transfer Was Legendary:
- Scored 86 goals in 89 games for Dortmund
- Won the Golden Boy award in 2020
- Earned a massive €60M transfer to Manchester City
The Worst Transfers in Bundesliga History
Not every transfer works out. Some signings were huge financial losses and massive disappointments.
1. Jann-Fiete Arp (2019 – €3M from Hamburg to Bayern Munich)
Once considered Germany’s next big striker, Arp’s move to Bayern ended in total failure.
❌ Why This Transfer Was a Disaster:
- Never played a single Bundesliga match for Bayern
- Demoted to Bayern’s reserve team
- Bayern paid him millions in wages for nothing
2. Renato Sanches (2016 – €35M from Benfica to Bayern Munich)
Renato Sanches was the Golden Boy winner in 2016, but he struggled in Germany.
❌ Why This Transfer Was a Disaster:
- Failed to adapt to Bundesliga football
- Sent on loan to Swansea, where he struggled even more
- Bayern sold him to Lille for only €25M after three years
3. Sebastian Kehl (2002 – Free Transfer from Freiburg to Borussia Dortmund)
Kehl was one of Germany’s most talented young midfielders, but he turned down Bayern Munich and joined Dortmund. This move was controversial because he had already agreed terms with Bayern.
❌ Why This Transfer Was a Disaster:
- The transfer battle led to legal issues
- Bayern never forgave Dortmund for the move
- Although Kehl had an okay career, he never reached his full potential
4. André Schürrle (2016 – €30M from Wolfsburg to Borussia Dortmund)
Schürrle won the World Cup with Germany in 2014, but his move to Dortmund was a major disappointment.
❌ Why This Transfer Was a Disaster:
- Struggled with injuries and inconsistency
- Scored only 8 goals in 51 Bundesliga matches
- Retired from football at just 29 years old
Conclusion: Learning from Bundesliga Transfers
The Bundesliga has seen some of the best transfers in football history, but also some huge failures.
💎 Best Transfers: Players like Lewandowski, Robben, and Haaland became legends and led their clubs to success.
🚨 Worst Transfers: Signings like Renato Sanches, Jann-Fiete Arp, and André Schürrle cost their clubs millions without success.
As Bundesliga clubs continue to spend on transfers, learning from past successes and failures is crucial for the future.
Support Football!
What do you think? Who was the greatest Bundesliga signing ever, and who was the biggest flop? Share your thoughts in the comments! Keep supporting Aw8 online casino Singapore and enjoy the beautiful game! ⚽🔥