Last year saw Borussia Dortmund competing for three titles, without winning one. The Black and Yellows had smartly done their work fairly early in the summer, with only two of their whopping eight additions to the squad being signed after the window’s opening on July 1. Add five departures from the first team and you’re looking at the busiest transfer period for the Ruhr side. 

Players Sold/Left

Henrikh Mkhitaryan made a £26m move to Manchester United. Mats Hummels who joined Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2008, re-signed for the Bavarian club this summer for a fee in excess of €30m.  Ilkay Gündogan also left the club after being a mainstay at the midfield for 5 years. The 25-year-old moved to Manchester City for  around £20m.

Mkhitaryan, Hummels and Gundogan were all entering the final year of their contracts. City, Bayern and United were offering a huge increase in wages and all three of those players were on the final year of their contracts. Meaning they would be available to leave on a free transfer in 12 months time. Hence, Dortmund made a staggering profit on the sales of these three players. Three incredible players who no doubt Dortmund would have preferred to hang on to, but they did smart business and made the most of it.

Błaszczykowski after spending time on loan at Fiorentina last season, joined VfL Wolfsburg on a three-year contract.

In Mats Hummels, they lost their team captain; in Ilkay Gundogan, the most important player in Tuchel’s system; and in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the team’s Player of the Year. Replacing these players would not be easy.

Key Players Brought In

Dortmund’s decision to bring in so many new players can largely be attributed to the importance of three players who left the club in the summer. Borussia Dortmund after making huge profits by selling their three star players and bought eight players. All of them 25 or under.

They brought in Andre Schurrle for €30 million from VfL Wolfsburg to give them extra speed and quality up front. The former Chelsea winger is a proven threat in the Bundesliga, scoring 48 goals and creating 31 assists in 175 matches for Wolfsburg. Mario Gotze is back at the club, the 24-year-old was bought for a bargain of 26m euros from Bayern Munich. Both Gotze and Schurrle are replacements for Mkhitaryan who produced a staggering 23 goals and 32 assists last season. 

The x-factor and potential bargain of the window, might be 19-year-old Ousmane Dembélé who cost 15 million euros from Stade Rennais. 

Marc Bartra joined from FC Barcelona for a bargain at €8 million who will replace Hummels. The 25-year-old has been at Barcelona where he played 103 matches, winning two Champions Leagues and five La Liga titles.

Raphael Guerreiro who was a key part of Portugal’s recent triumph at Euro 2016, arrived from FC Lorient for a fee of €12 million. The left-back is a threat going forward as well as strengths the defence. 

For complete list of Borussia Dortmund transfers, visit here.

Expected impact players for the season

In their eight signings, Borussia Dortmund added an interesting blend of talented youth and proven Bundesliga quality. Apart from goalkeeper and striker, the club signed new faces in every area of the pitch. This will increase competition within the squad and give Tuchel plenty of options for rotation, throughout, what fans hope will be a long and arduous season. 

Marc Bartra has arguably been the most impressive new signing. He showcases all the qualities one would expect from a La Masia graduate plus he’s a definite upgrade in mobility. Sebastian Rode looks like the signing who will have the least problems to get acquainted to the new surroundings. Rode adds another dimension to Dortmund’s midfield, he’s a dynamic box-to-box runner who plays with a physicality the team lacked at times last season.

New signing Ousmane Dembele has been a revelation. The 19-year-old should have an immediate impact this season. Dembele showed an intriguing blend of quickness, audacity and skill that defenders have a hard time coping with during the pre-season.

Andre Schürrle will provide pace and physicality on the wings after his big money move. Add that with his accuracy and ability to cut inside, he could have a big impact in finishing the attacks. Schürrle will be supported by his German compatriot Mario Gotze, who returns to his boyhood club.

The prodigal son’s sensational return to Dortmund after three disappointing years under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich will arguably make or break the perception of this summer’s transfer business. If Gotze can return to his former self and show the form that made him one of the world’s best attacking midfielders at a young age in his first stint at the club, Borussia Dortmund can surely be competing alongside top European sides.

Complete Squad of Borussia Dortmund for 2016-2017 season.

Picture Courtesy: Google, BVB.de