A quick look at the most expensive transfers in Bayern Munchen's history!
Bayern Munchen are one of the most successful clubs in world football. Period.
They have won the Bundesliga title a record 32 times, while also lifting the Champions League on six occasions over the course of their illustrious history.
And they have had some absolute ballers representing them on their way to all that silverware.
Just think Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Lothar Matthaus, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and many more.
Many of these high-profile names were brought in from other clubs as Bayern have historically proven they are not afraid to splash the cash if they feel the opportunity is right.
That approach has earned them plenty of rewards throughout the 21st century as they have secured the services of some true superstars.
Who have cost them the biggest transfer fees, though?
Bayern Munich most expensive transfers by season
SEASON
MOST EXPENSIVE SIGNING
FEE
2022/23
Matthijs de Ligt
€67M
€137.5M
2021/22
Dayot Upamecano
€42.50M
€57.50M
2020/21
Leroy Sane
€60M
€77.25M
2019/20
Lucas Hernandez
€80M
€139.50M
2018/19
Alphonso Davies
€10M
€10M
2017/18
Corentin Tolisso
€41.50M
€116.50M
2016/17
Renato Sanches / Mats Hummels
€35M
€70M
2015/16
Arturo Vidal
€39.25M
€90.75M
2014/15
Medhi Benatia
€28M
€53.40M
2013/14
Mario Gotze
€37M
€62M
2012/13
Javi Martinez
€40M
€70.30M
2011/12
Manuel Neuer
€30M
€52.10M
2010/11
Luiz Gustavo
€17M
€17M
2009/10
Mario Gomez
€30M
€75.70M
2008/09
None
Nil
Nil
2007/08
Franck Ribery
€30M
€93.20M
2006/07
Lukas Podolski
€10M
€24M
2005/06
Valerien Ismael
€8.50M
€11.20M
2004/05
Lucio
€12M
€25.75M
2003/04
Roy Makaay
€19.75M
€27M
2002/03
Ze Roberto
€9.50M
€24.50M
2001/02
Claudio Pizarro
€7.54M
€20.54M
2000/01
Willy Sagnol
€7.70M
€10M
TOTAL
€1.27B
*All figures are taken from Transfermarkt unless stated otherwise.
Bayern Munich top 10 most expensive transfersGetty10Benjamin Pavard | €35 million | VfB Stuttgart | 2019
Pavard announced himself to the wider public with his incredible performances for France at the 2018 World Cup, including a beauty of a goal against Argentina, and Bayern decided to make a move for him in January 2019, with the Bavarians paying €35 million to sign him.
The versatile defender made his debut in a 10-minute substitute appearance in August 2019 in a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
In 2021, the Frenchman scored Bayern's only goal in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup final win against Tigres UNAL, thus helping his club complete a sextuple of trophies.
AdvertisementGetty/Goal9Mats Hummels | €35 million | Borussia Dortmund | 2016
After graduating from Bayern Munich's youth academy, Hummels left for Borussia Dortmund on loan in January 2008 before signing permanently with them in February 2009 for €4 million.
He led Dortmund to two consecutive league titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively and helped them finish runner-up in the 2012-13 Champions League.
Hummels was also part of the German team that won the World Cup in 2014.
After the best part of eight years in Dortmund, Hummels returned to Bayern in the summer of 2016 in a transfer worth €35 million.
Overall, in his time with the Bavarians, he won the Bundesliga title four times along with three DFL-Supercups and a DFB-Pokal.
Three years later in 2019, Bayern agreed to sell him back to Dortmund for €30.50m.
AFP8Mario Gotze | €37 million | Borussia Dortmund | 2013
Once considered the future of German football, Gotze was signed for €37 million by Bayern Munich as a 21-year-old from Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
A year later, he was on top of the world, scoring the winning goal against Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil.
At club level, however, Gotze did not seem to settle in well at Bayern and after a three-year stint in Bavaria, he returned to Dortmund, where he spent four years.
In 2020, Gotze made the move to PSV and after two seasons there, he returned to Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2022.
Getty7Arturo Vidal | €39.25 million | Juventus | 2015
After five successful seasons with Juventus, Vidal made the move to Bayern in the summer of 2015 for a handsome €39.25 million.
He spent three seasons at Bayern and played a major role in the 2016-17 campaign, ensuring that the club went a whole league campaign without defeat at the Allianz Arena for the first time since 2008.
In the 2017-18 season, Vidal suffered a season-ending injury during training in the second half of the campaign.
At the end of that season, the Chile ace left for Barcelona.