Barcelona’s acquisition of Ousmane Dembele in 2017 was a significant transfer for the Catalan club. The young French forward had already made a name for himself at Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona was keen to secure his services. The transfer fee paid by Barcelona for Dembele was staggering, cementing his status as one of the most expensive players in football history.
The Transfer Saga
Before delving into the specifics of the transfer fee, it is worth mentioning the dramatic nature of Dembele’s move to Barcelona. The negotiations between Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona were anything but straightforward. Dortmund initially resisted Barcelona’s advances, determined to hold onto their prized asset.
However, Dembele’s desire to join the Spanish giants was clear, and he went to great lengths to force through the transfer. He skipped training sessions and went AWOL from Dortmund, ultimately leaving them with no choice but to negotiate with Barcelona.
The Eye-Watering Transfer Fee
Barcelona eventually secured Dembele’s signature for a jaw-dropping fee of €105 million. This made him the second most expensive player in history at that time, just behind Neymar Jr., who had moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for an astonishing €222 million earlier that same summer.
It is important to note that the initial fee reported does not tell the whole story. The total cost of signing Dembele included various add-ons and performance-related clauses that could potentially increase the overall amount paid by Barcelona significantly.
Add-Ons and Performance-Related Clauses
In addition to the fixed transfer fee, Barcelona agreed upon several add-ons and performance-related clauses with Dortmund. These additional payments would be triggered based on certain milestones being achieved by Dembele during his time at Barcelona.
- €40 million in performance-related bonuses were agreed upon, contingent on Dembele’s successful spell at the club.
- An extra €5 million was to be paid if Barcelona qualified for the UEFA Champions League during Dembele’s tenure.
- Furthermore, Dortmund would receive a percentage of any future transfer fee if Barcelona were to sell Dembele before a specified date.
All these additional payments meant that the total cost of acquiring Dembele could potentially rise well beyond the initial €105 million fee. While it is challenging to quantify exactly how much Barcelona ended up paying in total, it is safe to say that the final amount was considerably higher than the headline figure.
The Investment and Expectations
Barcelona’s decision to invest such a substantial amount of money in Dembele was indicative of their faith in his potential. The club envisioned him as a long-term replacement for Neymar Jr., who had departed just weeks before Dembele’s arrival.
The expectations placed upon Dembele were immense. He was seen as a player capable of providing blistering pace, creativity, and goals – attributes that had made him stand out at Dortmund. However, injuries hampered his progress during his early years at Barcelona, limiting his playing time and stunting his development.
Despite these setbacks, there have been glimpses of Dembele’s undeniable talent when he has been fit and firing on all cylinders. The hope within the Barcelona camp is that he can overcome his injury woes and fulfill his potential as one of the world’s top footballers.
In Conclusion
Barcelona paid a colossal fee of €105 million to secure the services of Ousmane Dembele. While the transfer fee alone was staggering, the inclusion of add-ons and performance-related clauses meant that the total cost could exceed this already astronomical figure.
Dembele’s journey at Barcelona has been filled with ups and downs so far, but there is still hope that he can justify the hefty investment made by the club. Only time will tell if he can fulfill his potential and become a key figure in Barcelona’s future success.