Borussia Dortmund have raked in huge profit as Barcelona shell out a mammoth sum to settle a seven-year debt after signing Ousmane Dembele.
The Culers sealed a deal with Borussia Dortmund for Dembele in 2017 but had a controversial add-on clause attached to the transfer.
Ousmane Dembele left Borussia Dortmund as the club’s most expensive departure
Borussia Dortmund are known for their shrewd and smart dealings in the transfer market. The Bundesliga giants have once again been thrust into the spotlight as Barcelona completed payment for Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele was Borussia Dortmund’s most lucrative sale after they reached an agreement with Barcelona for a fee worth €135m for the player, excluding add-ons.
Notably, Dembele’s transfer move to Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund was the most shocking transfer deal ever due to the circumstances of the move.
This is because Borussia Dortmund signed Ousmane Dembele for just €35m from Rennes in 2016. The French winger played only for one season for the Bundesliga club and Barcelona came begging with a ludicrous €135m transfer fee.
And that was not all; a report shared by Fabrizio Romano has revealed the amount the two clubs agreed as add-ons which has now taken the total transfer fee for the player to €148m.
Note that Dembele scored just six goals with 12 assists for Borussia Dortmund in his one-season spell with the club.
The role of Lionel Messi in Ousmane Dembele’s move to Barcelona
Whether Barcelona would have paid that much for Ousmane Dembele is unknown. However, sources close to the club have revealed the role Lionel Messi played in Barcelona’s signing of the forward.
According to the reports, Messi had been a long-time admirer of the French footballer due to his terrific performances on the right-wing and wanted the club to sign the player to partner him in the Culer’s attack.
While the Argentine apparently influenced the club’s move for Dembele, a €148m transfer value for a club debutant is still considered an outrageous transfer fee.
The irony of Ousmane Dembele’s Barcelona transfer
Barcelona have taken over six years to clear Ousmane Dembele’s debt and this is ironically coming at a time the player is plying his trade with another club. Recall French Ligue 1 giants PSG signed Dembele for €50m, triggering his release clause in the 2023 summer transfer window.
This is almost a €100m net loss to the club when juxtaposed with the €148m total transfer fee paid to Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
It is understood that Barcelona did not want to sell Ousmane Dembele but could not resist the player’s decision to leave.
Speaking on his exit from the club, Dembele said he would have loved to continue at Barcelona but added that he has always wanted to play for PSG because it is a French club, and he loves the club.
“Yes, I said I would stay at Barcelona, but after speaking with PSG I was convinced that I had to leave. I signed for PSG because it is a French club and I love it”, he said.
Dembele made 185 appearances for the Catalan giants in all competitions, scoring 40 goals. He won three La Liga titles, two Copa Del Rey, and two Supercopa de Espana.
Dembele joined PSG last summer. He has made 44 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals on his debut campaign, and winning a domestic treble.
