From Matthew to Makaay to today…
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These players broke the transfer record at FC Bayern!
Lothar Matthäus (1984 for 1.2 million euros from Gladbach)
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In 1984, FC Bayern paid Borussia Mönchengladbach 2.4 million Deutschmarks for Lothar Matthäus. Converted into euros, Matthäus was the first transfer of millions from Munich. Four years later, the DFB record player followed the call of Inter Milan, before playing for FCB again for eight years from 1992.
Olaf Thon (1988 for 1.7 million euros from Schalke)
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The equivalent of around 500,000 euros more cost Olaf Thon (pictured here with coach Jupp Heynckes) in the summer of 1988, who remained loyal to the record champions for five years and then switched back to Schalke for 1.25 million euros.
Brian Laudrup (1990 for €3m from Uerdingen)
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The Dane Brian Laudrup came to Munich from Bayer Uerdingen in the summer of 1990 for 3 million euros and replaced Thon as the record signing. Sportingly not a real success story, FCB was able to book a transfer plus of 2 million euros two years later when it left for AC Fiorentina.
Thomas Helmer (1992 for 3.75 million euros from BVB)
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With a transfer fee of the equivalent of 3.75 million euros, FC Bayern made Thomas Helmer a new record purchase. Today’s moderator and then defender came from Borussia Dortmund and stayed for seven years before moving to England to join AFC Sunderland.
Mario Basler (1996, for 4.1 million euros from Werder)
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In 1996, the German record champion Mario Basler sent Werder Bremen south for 4.1 million euros. “Super Mario” subsequently made headlines both on and off the pitch and, after the so-called “pizzeria affair” in winter 1999, switched to 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Giovane Elber (1997 for 6.5 million euros from Stuttgart)
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An undisputed success story, however, was the next record signing in Bayern history: Giovane Elber cost 6.5 million euros in 1997. The Brazilian scored 140 times in 266 competitive games for Munich, collected numerous titles in six years and was part of the Champions League-winning team in the 2000/01 season.
Paulo Sérgio (1999 for €6.6m from AS Roma)
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At his side in international success: compatriot Paulo Sérgio, who just about broke the transfer record in 1999. Previously active for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, the attacking player was particularly impressive in his first season in the Bavarian capital before leaving the club on a free transfer in 2002.
Willy Sagnol (2000 for €7.7m from Monaco)
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Willy Sagnol, on the other hand, developed into a real club icon. The French right-back stayed with FC Bayern until the end of his career, who sold him from AS Monaco in the summer of 2000 for €7.7 million. By the turn of the millennium, the club had broken its own transfer record four times in five years.
Zé Roberto (2002 for €9.5m from Leverkusen)
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After a year without a new record in these statistics, things continued in 2002 with Zé Roberto, who was brought in from Bayer Leverkusen for 9.5 million euros as part of a major transfer offensive. After a first phase with four years as an attacking winger, the Brazilian, who was still active until 2017, moved back to South America to return in 2007 as a defensive midfielder for two years.
Roy Makaay (2003 for 19.75m from Deportivo)
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Just a year later, Zé Roberto’s record fee was more than doubled to secure the services of Roy Makaay. In the previous season he had scored 4 goals in 2 games in the Champions League against Munich for Deportivo La Coruna and also showed himself to be accurate in the Bayern jersey. 103 goals in 183 competitive games are a clear sign that the EUR 19.75 million invested was worth it.
Franck Ribéry (2007 for €30m from Marseille)
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It would take another four years for the record to fall again. Franck Ribéry then moved to Munich for 30 million euros, he only left 12 years later. The Frenchman helped mark an era in the club’s glorious history. Highlight: The Champions League victory in 2013.
Javi Martínez (2012 for €40m from Bilbao)
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In the summer of 2012, FC Bayern had to break their record again in order to get rid of their dream player Javi Martínez at Athletic Bilbao. The Basque, who left the club in the summer of 2021, cost 40 million euros.
Corentin Tolisso (2017 for €41.5m from Lyon)
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Corentin Tolisso joined the Bayern squad in the summer of 2017 after transferring a record €41.5m to Olympique Lyon. After a solid first year, the French world champion missed almost the entire 2018/19 season due to injury and has been fighting in vain for a regular place ever since. More injuries threw him back more often. The separation took place in 2022.
Lucas Hernández (2019 for €80m from Atletico)
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In the summer of 2019, an exit clause from a Spanish club again caused Munich’s record transfer fee to rise enormously: Lucas Hernández is also by far the most expensive transfer from a German club at €80 million.
