today-is-a-good-day
HomeFast & FuriousBVB'S QUIRKY DEPARTURES

BVB’S QUIRKY DEPARTURES

Published on:

Jadon Sancho’s transfer to Manchester United added the youngster to the prestigious list of the top departures from Borussia Dortmund. The German outfit has been known for developing youngsters across Europe into an inevitable force. The strategy adopted by Borussia Dortmund helps them grow players either from their world-class academy or from smaller teams across Europe and then transfer them for whopping amounts.

 

 

From Ousmane Dembele’s saga to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s transfer, the catalogue of top departures from Dortmund is quite lengthy and helps the German club bolster their finances. They use the services of the raw talent for a handful of years and then off-load him to the bigger European sharks. We at FootTheBall take a look at these top departures from Dortmund that have helped BVB become a factory of talent generation.

 

OUSMANE DEMBELE

A young flamboyant Frenchman with electrifying swiftness and dangerous dribbles, the name Ousmanne Demeble trembled around the rings of European football after his first campaign in Germany. Captured from Rennes for pennies, Dortmund sold the Frenchman to a desperate Catalan outfit for a whopping amount of 130 million euros plus add-ons. The Blaugrana were hunting throughout Europe, the replacement of Brazilian sensation Neymar who dribbled his way into PSG’s eleven.

 

 

Since Neymar’s departure, Barcelona’s squad looked blunt and short on ideas and Dembele’s arrival was expected to change the scenario. But injuries shrouded the Frenchman’s talent who made it into the flop-list at Camp Nou. Although a loss for Barcelona, Dortmund profited from the money capturing signatures of different players to bolster their roster.

 

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG

Dortmund’s recruitment fabricated another striking sensation when they exposed Gabonese forward Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to the world. The replacement of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, Aubameyang was considered to be a poacher in front of goal.

And while the atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park favours the outfit in yellow, it could sometimes prove hostile for them putting the players under immense pressure. But pressure is Aubameyan’s nickname, the forward shark bashed in a stunning 98 goals during his stint at the German giants.

 

 

And after a handful of campaigns with Dortmund, the 2015 African Footballer of the Year packed his bags and departed for the Premier League. Arsene Wenger’s Gunners had just lost Alexis Sanchez in a swap deal with the Red Devils, and Aubamaeynag was once again roped in as a replacement. Mirroring his Dortmund career, the 56 million pound player demolished the Premier League with his striking heroics.

 

JADON SANCHO

The latest addition to the catalogue of expensive transfers, the latest Red Devil was influential in his tenure in Germany. With 38 strikes and 45 assists, the English midfielder showed all his class since move from Manchester City. And Fabrizio Romano’s favourite rumour, Jadon Sancho has been on Manchester United’s shopping list for a long time, but they failed to check out.

 

 

But after immense wars with Dortmund, the 21-year-old youngster finally earned a contract with United. A 72 million pounds contract, the Englishman’s transfer to United could solve Dortmund’s monetary headaches with Covid-19 thrashing the club’s financial resources. Although Signal Iduna Park won’t witness the trio of Marco Reus, Erling Haaland, and Jadon Sancho again, the money earned has helped BVB sign Donyell Malen and potentially develop him into a world-class prospect.

 

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI

“He scores important goals for us, works extremely hard and is, in our eyes, a player that we couldn’t replace at all during the summer. Not on our financial capabilities,” Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke told the Süddeutschen Zeitung newspaper.

 

 

Although Dortmund’s goal-hunter surprised everyone with a move to rivals Bayern Munich, the Polish striker left after enjoying a goal-scoring carnival at Signal Iduna Park. 2 German titles combined with 74 goals, Lewandowski ripped apart the opposition defence. And a constant contract argument left Dortmund with no choice other than off-loading the striker.

After immense amounts of conversations, the two parties couldn’t reach a conclusion and Bayern Munich offered a more lucrative contract luring Lewandowski out of Dortmund for free.

 

CHRISTIAN PULISIC

While Chelsea’s shopping list is never-ending, an American item present in Dortmund’s roster matched the Blues’ requirements. Christian Pulisic burst onto the scene after living a breakthrough campaign in Germany and for his national outfit. A part of the United States of America’s golden generation, Christian Pulisic transferred to Chelsea for a whopping price of 123 million pounds.

 

 

Although the Blues couldn’t benefit the most from Pulisic’s presence under Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel’s arrival at Stamford Bridge turned the American’s fortunes. Christian Pulisic demonstrated great determination and willpower to direct the English outfit to the Champions League throne. With Tuchel earning another season at the Bridge, Pulisic’s role at the club will surely grow after his injury woes are resolved.

 

ILKAY GUNDOGAN

When Borussia Dortmund revealed their squad for the 2015/16 campaign in the Signal Iduna Park, The supporters booed and whistled one member, Ilkay Gundogan. It wasn’t the whole stadium, but a sizable contingent of fans.

Gundogan had inked a career renewal just days before the group introduction, putting a conclusion to rumours that he might leave this summer. But who would have known that these whistles would soon turn into claps when the German midfielder would transfer to Etihad for an amount of 21 million pounds.

 

 

Despite his success in Germany and England, Gündoan has a habit of flying under the spotlight at Manchester City, mostly being overwhelmed by his centre midfielders. The fulcrum of Pep Guardiola’s central wizardry, his partnership with first David Silva and then Kevin De Bruyne demolished England and turned City into the Champions of the land.

 

MATS HUMMELS

Another member of the Bayern Munich-Borussia Dortmund friendship, German veteran Mats Hummels transferred to the Bavarians after enjoying jaw-dropping campaigns at Dortmund. Mats Hummels can play as a holding midfielder when required, and can even conduct his business in open terrains depending upon the requirements of the match, despite his technical positioning as a centre-back.

 

 

His enormous understanding of the subject, endurance, and underappreciated ball control allowed Mats Hummels to earn the title of the most-decorated centre-back in Germany’s history. The defender’s destiny has been primarily associated with the evolution of the German game throughout the last decade, having been chased after by some of the biggest clubs throughout Europe. While the chasing never stopped Hummels found his home across the German town at Bayern Munich earning a place in the top departures from Dortmund.

 

SHINJI KAGAWA

A member of United’s golden decades, Shinji Kagwa transformed the situation at the Theatre after he arrived in England. Although the Red Devils were turned down on several occasions, Kagawa’s thirst for glory landed him in Manchester. But fortunately for the German outfit, their investment of just 350,000 euros in the Japanese earned them massive rewards. Regarded as a steal, the youngster’s outings at the Signal Iduna Park proved why the Japanese midfielder was destined for glory.

 

 

His touch is flawless when Kagawa dictates the game. He can manipulate the football through tight spaces while keeping it quick, sweet, and uncomplicated. Even in the centre, it’s unusual to find a guy that is so conscious of his surroundings.

Kagawa understands precisely where he should be at all times throughout a contest, and he has developed his unique method of positioning himself in response to the defender’s offensive patterns. And his move to the Red Devils helped Dortmund restore finances while he marches into the list of top departures from Dortmund.

 

MARIO GOTZE

A name that Argentine spectators would hate through their life, Mario Gotze lived the dream of scoring the match-winner in a world cup final for his national outfit. Although Gotze joined hands with Bayern a season ago, his staggering performances for Dortmund earned him a spot in Joachim Low’s World Cup-winning roster. Gotze joined the Dortmund academy at quite an early age, rising through the ranks finally earning a place in BVB’s eleven.

 

 

Packing electrifying pace and dribbling ability, Gotze’s constant gallops into the opposition’s goal-mouths saw him earning a name throughout Europe. The goal in the 2014 ultimate showdown in Brazil saw him become the hot pick in Europe, but the early fame demolished the rising German’s career. But surely the 37 million euros signing left Dortmund with immense amounts of cash to invest in other youngsters.

 

PACO ALCACER

A Spanish poacher, Paco Alcacer was believed to take on the baton from the ageing Fernando Torress for La Furia Roja and David Villa for the Catalans. But the trio of Neymar, Messi, and Suarez saw Alcacer turn into a benchwarmer at Camp Nou, faltering to earn himself a spot in Barcelona’s eleven. Off-loaded to Dortmund, the Spanish striker looked to revamp his career in Germany but Gotze’s and Reus’ presence in the Dortmund roster slashed his hopes of a comeback.

 

 

Sold for 23 million euros to Valencia, Alcacer looked for a re-birth in his depleting career. The money made by Dortmund helped them rope in youngsters across Europe, as they look to develop them into a Dembele or a Lewandowski. Paco Alcacer, therefore, becomes another addition to the list of top departures from Borussia Dortmund.

also read