Jude Bellingham is set to become the latest Galactico as the midfielder prepares to move to Real Madrid this summer. In doing so, he creates another huge chunk of transfer profit for Borussia Dortmund.
According to The Guardian, Bellingham joins Los Blancos for an initial fee of €103m (£88m), with add-ons that may increase the deal by a further €30m.
Fabrizio Romano then reports that the England international has agreed a deal with the Spanish giants until 2029. Therefore, Bellingham’s long-term future is locked into Madrid.
For Borussia Dortmund, losing the Bundesliga Player of the Season is obviously a tremendous blow. They came unbelievably close to unseating Bayern at the top of the league in 2022/23, the Bavarians stealing the title on the final day.
Now, after losing arguably their best player, it is hard to imagine BVB being so close next time around.
However, the departure of Jude Bellingham has handed Borussia Dortmund a tidy transfer profit to use this summer. But where does the England star’s exit rank on their all-time sales?
*All transfer fees are from Transfermarkt, unless mentioned otherwise.
Borussia Dortmund transfers with the highest revenue: #5 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, €50.75m profit
The fifth-most profit that Borussia Dortmund made with a transfer was when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club.
After moving to Signal Iduna Park in 2013 for €13m, the forward spent four-and-a-half years in Germany. The Gabon international’s 141 goals in black and yellow earned him the attention of Arsenal, though.
Aubameyang joined the Gunners in January 2018. Arsenal shelled out €63.75m for the forward – the club’s second most expensive signing. This, of course, translated into a huge net profit for Borussia Dortmund. From his sale, BVB brought in just over €50m in revenue.
#4 – Christian Pulisic – €64m profit
Breaking into the €60m range now, Christian Pulisic earned the Bundesliga side a tremendous amount of money.
The USMNT star moved to Germany as a youngster, entering Dortmund’s academy system. So, when he signed for Chelsea in a €64m transfer, Borussia Dortmund enjoyed ALL of that fee as profit.
By comparison, the London side seem ready to let the winger leave Stamford Bridge for pennies on the dollar.
#3: Jadon Sancho, €65m profit
Coming in third on this Borussia Dortmund transfer profit rundown is Jadon Sancho. The winger joined Man United in 2021 to the tune of €85m following numerous stellar seasons in Germany.
BVB initially brought in Sancho for €9.2m (£8m) from United’s rivals, Manchester City. Unfortunately, their deal to get the Englishman back in 2017 ate into their future transfer profit.
When the Red Devils shelled out for Jadon Sancho, their neighbours got a slice of the fee. Man City earned 15% of the €85m that Dortmund received for their player – reducing the amount of profit that BVB made in the transfer.
Still, a €60m+ gain on what they paid for a player is certainly worth celebrating.
#2: Jude Bellingham, €73m profit (from initial fee)
Dortmund’s most recent big-money departure will make for their second-largest net earnings. Once Jude Bellingham officially becomes a Galactico, BVB stand to make €73m in profit – initially.
Three years ago, Dortmund spent €30m to bring the teenager to their side. After watching his emergence as one of the best young talents in the world, the club now moves him on for over €100m.
But there is a condition that may reduce their profit here. When BVB bought Bellingham, Birmingham City inserted a sell-on clause in the deal. So, per The Mirror, the Championship side may receive in excess of £10m from his Madrid move.
#1: Ousmane Dembele, €100m profit
Finally, coming in at No.1 as the largest Borussia Dortmund transfer profit is Ousmane Dembele. In 2017, the Frenchman joined Barcelona in one of the most expensive moves of all time.
Barca threw €140m at Dortmund in order to get Dembele. This absolutely dwarfs the fee that BVB paid Rennes a year prior, which was €15m (per ESPN).
There was, yet again, a sell-on clause that swiped some revenue, though. Ligue 1 side Rennes enjoyed a portion of the nine-figure sum that Barca paid BVB. Sporting News claims that this took the French team’s total fee received for Ousmane Dembele to €40m – although there are varying reports.
Nevertheless, Dortmund netted around €100m from their sale of Dembele, making it easily their most profitable transfer.
Through shrewd moves and player development, BVB really do have a sustainable business structure. For example, the five players on this list earned the club over €350m alone, with many more departures increasing revenue.
Borussia Dortmund truly are the kings of transfer profit.
Featured image credit: Getty
