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 German marks for Lothar Matthäus. Converted into euros, Matthäus was the Munich team’s first million-dollar transfer. Four years later, the DFB record player followed Inter Milan’s call before playing for FCB again for eight years from 1992.
Olaf Thon (1988 for 1.7 million euros from Schalke)
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Olaf Thon (pictured here with coach Jupp Heynckes), who remained loyal to the record champions for five years and then moved back to Schalke for 1.25 million euros, cost the equivalent of around 500,000 euros more in the summer of 1988.
Brian Laudrup (1990 for 3 million euros from Uerdingen)
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The Dane Brian Laudrup came to Munich from Bayer Uerdingen for 3 million euros in the summer of 1990 and replaced Thon as a record signing. Not a real success story in terms of sport, FCB was able to record a transfer gain of 2 million euros two years later when they left for AC Florence.
Thomas Helmer (1992 for 3.75 million euros from BVB)
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With a transfer fee equivalent to 3.75 million euros, FC Bayern made Thomas Helmer a new record purchase. The current presenter and former defender came from Borussia Dortmund and stayed for seven years before moving on to England to AFC Sunderland.
Mario Basler (1996, for 4.1 million euros from Werder)
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In 1996, the German record champion Mario Basler moved south from Werder Bremen for 4.1 million euros. “Super Mario” subsequently made headlines on and off the pitch and moved to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the winter of 1999 after the so-called “pizzeria affair”.
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’s 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 6.6 million euros from AS Roma)
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At his side during international success: compatriot Paulo Sérgio, who narrowly broke the transfer record in 1999. Previously active for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, the offensive player was particularly impressive in the Bavarian capital in his first season before leaving the club for a free transfer in 2002.
Willy Sagnol (2000 for 7.7 million euros 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 released him from AS Monaco in the summer of 2000 for 7.7 million euros. By the turn of the millennium, the club had broken its own transfer record four times in five years.
Zé Roberto (from Leverkusen in 2002 for 9.5 million euros)
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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 an initial phase of four years as an attacking winger, the Brazilian, who was active until 2017, moved back to South America, only to return in 2007 as a defensive midfielder for two years.
Roy Makaay (2003 for 19.75 million 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. He had scored 4 goals in 2 games in the Champions League against Munich for Deportivo La Coruna the season before and was also effective in the Bayern jersey. 103 goals in 183 competitive games are a clear sign that the 19.75 million euros invested were worth it.
Franck Ribéry (from Marseille in 2007 for 30 million euros)
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It would take another four years before the record fell again. Franck Ribéry moved to Munich for 30 million euros and didn’t leave until 12 years later. The Frenchman helped shape an era in the club’s glorious history. Highlight: The Champions League victory in 2013.
Javi Martínez (2012 for 40 million euros from Bilbao)
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In order to get Javi Martínez away from Athletic Bilbao, FC Bayern had to break their record again in the summer of 2012. The Basque, who left the club in the summer of 2021, cost 40 million euros.
Corentin Tolisso (from Lyon in 2017 for 41.5 million euros)
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Corentin Tolisso joined the Bayern squad in the summer of 2017 after the record sum of 41.5 million euros was transferred to Olympique Lyon. After a solid debut 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 since then. Further injuries threw him back more often. The separation took place in 2022.
Lucas Hernández (from Atletico for 80 million euros in 2019)
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In the summer of 2019, a release clause from a Spanish club once again caused a huge increase in the Munich team’s record transfer fee: with a sum of 80 million euros, Lucas Hernández is also by far the most expensive transfer from a German club ever.
Harry Kane (2023 for 95 million euros from Tottenham Hotspur)
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After a long transfer poker, Bayern made the most expensive purchase in their history on August 12, 2023! The transfer fee for the top English striker can rise to up to 120 million euros thanks to bonuses.
