Süle’s costly spell: How much he really cost Borussia Dortmund 💰 | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund invested a lot of money in Niklas Süle – but the hoped-for sporting breakthrough did not materialize. In the end, the free transfer became one of the most expensive misunderstandings in the club's history.

"I just couldn't manage to do the right things. I couldn't motivate myself anymore. I wanted to, but I couldn't." This admission from Niklas Süle in the summer of 2024 pretty much sums up his time at Borussia Dortmund – a phase that was disappointing for the club both sportively and financially.

When the central defender moved from FC Bayern Munich to BVB on a free transfer in the summer of 2021, the transfer was considered a strong signal. Dortmund had signed a national player without having to pay a transfer fee. However, the supposed advantage quickly diminished: According to a report by Ruhr Nachrichten, the Black and Yellows invested around 60 million euros in Süle – through a signing bonus of about ten million euros, an annual salary of around twelve million euros, and additional bonus payments.

Measured against these sums, the sporting return was modest. In 108 competitive matches for Dortmund, Süle scored three goals and assisted five more. However, more significantly, he rarely held a consistent role and was seldom a clear first-choice player.

Fitness Issues with Niklas Süle: A Constant Challenge at BVB

A central issue during his time in Dortmund was recurring fitness problems. The 30-year-old was repeatedly criticized, also due to his physical condition. Injuries regularly set him back, and progress was often short-lived.

Photo: IMAGO

Even under coach Niko Kovac, who knew him from their time together and showed great trust, no lasting turnaround was achieved. The hope that Süle could once again reach his previous performance levels was not fulfilled. Thus, the final balance is sobering for both sides: high investments on the club's part, but only limited sporting benefit. The separation announced for the coming summer proceeded accordingly unspectacularly – without grand words and without public recognition.

The Süle case exemplifies that a free transfer is by no means risk-free. For Borussia Dortmund, it became one of the most expensive personnel decisions in the club's history.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.