Bayern Munich's 25 most expensive transfers of all time

FT Desk

• Updated: 23 Oct 2025 06:53 CDT
• 10 min read

Analysis

Bayern Munich are one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in European football history, and they have unsurprisingly employed some of the best players the sport has ever seen.

The German giants’ success has typically come from extremely smart business in the transfer market, however they have started to splash the cash in recent years in a bid to continue challenging for major honours.

Below, we run through the 25 most expensive Bayern Munich signings in history.

25. Hiroki Ito - €23.5m (from Stuttgart, 2024)

Bayern Munich always like to sign strong defenders who are comfortable on the ball and Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart was no different. The Japanese centre-back has struggled with injury since swapping Bundesliga teams, but has the potential to become a key player at the Allianz Arena.

24. Thiago - €25m (from Barcelona, 2013)

When Pep Guardiola arrived in the Bundesliga, he told Bayern's bosses one simple thing: "Thiago oder nichts." Thiago or nothing. Guardiola got what he wanted and Bayern got everything, as the tidy midfielder helped them to seven Bundesliga titles and won the Champions League after Guardiola moved on.

23. Arjen Robben - €25m (from Real Madrid, 2009)

The most iconic finishing move in sports entertainment was not found in wrestling but in the Dutch winger cutting from the right in onto his left foot and curling the ball past the goalkeeper.

Everyone knew what was coming but nobody could stop it, nor could Chelsea stop him scoring the winner in the 2013 Champions League final.

22. Medhi Benatia - €28m (from Roma, 2014)

The Moroccan defender only spent two seasons at Bayern Munich but won the league in both campaigns before joining Juventus. Pep Guardiola decided to move David Alaba to centre-back from left-back meaning Benatia was surplus to requirements with Jerome Boateng also undroppable.

21. Mario Gomez - €30m (from Stuttgart, 2009)

After being named as German Footballer of the Year, Gomez was bound to come to Bayern's attention. They broke the Bundesliga transfer record to sign him and were repaid with 75 league goals for the club in just 115 appearances.

20. Manuel Neuer - €30m (from Schalke, 2011)

Perhaps the most important Bayern Munich signing this century, Neuer has been one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world and is regularly part of the greatest goalkeeper of all time debate. The sweeper-keeper has been crucial to the way they have played for over a decade.

19. Sacha Boey - €30m (from Galatasaray, 2024)

Since the retirement of Philipp Lahm, Bayern have struggled to find a long-term right-back. Joshua Kimmich could have been the answer, but he now anchors the midfield. The signing of Boey from Galatasaray was seen as a gamble and it has yet to pay off.

18. Franck Ribery - €30m (from Marseille, 2007)

French winger Franck Ribery finished third to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the 2013 Ballon d'Or, but was arguably robbed of top spot in the popularity contest. He was unstoppable that season as Bayern won the Champions League and could do no more individually in one of the greatest seasons the club has ever seen.

17. Sadio Mane - €32m (from Liverpool, 2022)

Bayern's bosses thought Mane could be a bargain as Liverpool were happy to make some money on him as he neared the end of his contract. Unfortunately, the Reds were laughing all the way to the bank as his previously sensational form was nowhere to be seen and Bayern moved quickly to sell him on.

16. Benjamin Pavard - €35m (from Stuttgart, 2019)

More famous for what he did with France than Bayern, the versatile defender nonetheless was part of Hansi Flick's sextuple winning side in 2020 and proved a dependable squad player in four seasons at the club before moving to Italy to join Inter.

15. Mats Hummels - €35m (from Dortmund, 2016)

Mats Hummels has one of the most bizarre career maps in the world. He came through Bayern's academy before they allowed him to leave and join Borussia Dortmund for €4m. Seven years later, Bayern bought him back for nearly 10 times the amount after he helped the Black-Yellows to two Bundesliga titles. He won three more at Bayern during his second stint before he left again for Borussia Dortmund.

14. Renato Sanches - €35m (from Benfica, 2016)

Possibly the biggest flop of all in Bayern's most expensive signings list, Renato Sanches arrived in Munich as Europe's Golden Boy. He left on loan and passed the ball to an advertising hoarding while at Swansea. His career has stagnated since and now he's picking up the pieces in Greece.

13. Mario Götze - €37m (from Borussia Dortmund, 2013)

Mario Götze's transfer to Bayern Munich probably did not pay off much on the pitch while he was wearing the team's red, but the manner it was announced did more than enough to make him a club hero. Ahead of the 2013 Champions League final, news broke that the German wonderkid was leaving Dortmund for Bayern, causing uproar as the two were set to meet in the showpiece event. Dortmund were stunned as Bayern took the trophy and their star player.

12. Arturo Vidal - €39.3 (from Juventus, 2015)

At Juventus, the combative Chilean became one of the best midfielders in the world. At Bayern, he continued his winning streak, adding three Bundesliga titles to the four Serie A trophies he had picked up previously. He then went on to join Barcelona, winning La Liga in his first season too.

11. Javi Martinez - €40m (from Athletic Club, 2012)

Javi Martinez's versatility was probably the reason he was so underrated for his time in Munich. The Spain international could play at centre-back and defensive midfield and was the perfect utility player throughout the 2010s as he won nine consecutive Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues.

10. Corentin Tolisso - €41.5m (from Lyon, 2017)

Corentin Tolisso became Bayern Munich’s all-time record signing when he joined the club for €41.5m in 2017, although he has now fallen down to 10th place as a result of their immense spending in recent years.

The Frenchman arrived at the Allianz Arena with a stellar reputation from Lyon, however he suffered with multiple injury problems during his time at the club and he was only able to make 118 appearances across a five-year spell.

Tolisso eventually returned to Lyon on a Bosman deal in 2022 to mark the end of a disappointing tenure in Germany.

9. Kim Min-jae - €42m (from Napoli, 2023)

Bayern Munich completed the signing of Kim Min-jae for €42m in 2023, with the South Korea international arriving at the club following a fantastic season at Napoli.

He played a key role in helping the Serie A side win their first Scudetto in 33 years during his debut campaign and his form in Naples convinced Bayern to part ways with over €40m to bring him to Bavaria.

Kim failed to help Bayern win a trophy during his first season in Germany, but he started 27 matches as they won the 2024-25 Bundesliga title the following year.

8. Dayot Upamecano - €42.5m (from RB Leipzig, 2021)

Bayern said goodbye to defensive stalwarts David Alaba, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez in the summer of 2021 and new acquisitions were therefore required.

The Bundesliga giants immediately looked to raid their domestic rivals and they subsequently triggered the €42.5m release clause included in Dayot Upamecano's RB Leipzig contract after he'd become one of the most sought-after youngsters in Europe.

The Frenchman left Leipzig with 154 first-team appearances under his belt and he helped Bayern win the Bundesliga title in both of his first two seasons at the club.

7. Leroy Sane - €49m (from Manchester City, 2020)

In the summer of 2019, Leroy Sane was strongly linked with a move to Bayern Munich as they sought to sign a new attacker following the departure of Franck Ribery and the retirement of Arjen Robben.

Manchester City were unwilling to sell at that time, however, and a potential move collapsed when Sane suffered a cruciate ligament injury. However, he eventually joined Bayern for €49m one year later in 2020.

The Germany winger racked up 223 appearances, 61 goals and eight trophies across a five-year spell at Bayern, before leaving to join Galatasaray on a Bosman deal in 2025.

6. Joao Palhinha - €51m (from Fulham, 2024)

Bayern Munich were eager to sign Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha in 2023, after his impressive debut campaign at Craven Cottage, but the deal collapsed at the final hurdle and they were forced to wait for a further 12 months.

Palhinha finally moved to Bavaria for €51m in 2024, however he failed to impress under Vincent Kompany and he only started six Bundesliga matches during his first season at the club.

The Portugal international was then sent on loan to Tottenham Hotspur in August 2025.

5. Michael Olise - €53m (from Crystal Palace, 2024)

Michael Olise developed into one of the best attackers in the Premier League during a spectacular stint at Crystal Palace, which attracted the interest of every elite club in Europe.

Bayern eventually fought off competition from Chelsea and Manchester United to land the Frenchman for an initial €53m and he signed a five-year deal at the Allianz Arena.

Olise notched 43 goal contributions in 55 games during his debut season at Bayern, earning himself a nomination for the 2025 Ballon d’Or in the process.

4. Matthijs de Ligt - €67m (from Juventus, 2022)

Matthijs de Ligt is Bayern's fourth-most expensive signing of all time after joining the club from Juventus for €67m in 2022.

The Dutch international spent three years in Turin before seeking a transfer away and he chose to join Bayern amid interest from a host of top European clubs.

De Ligt instantly slotted into Bayern’s defence and he helped the Bavarians secure yet another Bundesliga title during his first season. However, he struggled in his second campaign and he was subsequently sold to Manchester United for €45m in the summer of 2024.

3. Luis Diaz - €70m (from Liverpool, 2025)

After missing out on both Florian Wirtz and Nico Williams during the 2025 summer transfer window, Bayern decided to spend €70m to sign Liverpool winger Luis Diaz.

The Colombian was eager to leave Anfield after helping the club win the 2024-25 Premier League title and he arrived at the Allianz Arena as a replacement for the aforementioned Sane.

In total, Diaz scored 41 goals in 148 games for Liverpool across a successful three-and-a-half year spell with the Reds.

2. Lucas Hernandez - €80m (from Atletico Madrid, 2019)

While Lucas Hernandez was not a complete failure after moving to Bayern in 2019, there’s no doubt the defender struggled to live up to his remarkable €80m price tag.

Over the course of four seasons, his versatility was put to good use but the France international never nailed down a regular starting berth at either left-back or in central defence.

He was sold to PSG in the summer of 2023 for €45m after a relatively disappointing spell at Bayern.

1. Harry Kane - €95m (from Tottenham, 2023)

Harry Kane smashed Bayern Munich's transfer record when he joined the club from Tottenham for €95m in 2023.

In the process, Kane became the most expensive sale in Spurs' history and ensured Bayern finally landed their replacement for Robert Lewandowski, one year after the Poland star had left to join Barcelona.

Kane had become Tottenham and England's all-time record goal-scorer during his time in north London and he scored a whopping 91 goals in his first 100 games for Bayern.

The 10 most expensive Bayern Munich signings of all time

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