It's the month of July and the transfer window is open with clubs across the continent shelling out money to build their squads. Bayern Munich, the financial powerhouse in the Bundesliga and the world began their transfer activity long before the window opened on July 1st. In the month of May, they announced the transfer of Mats Hummels who returned to the club after spending 8 years in Dortmund. The other player signed was Portuguese wonderkid Renato Sanches, who's had a stellar rise since he made his debut for Benfica last season. Sanches went on to lift the Euro Cup 2016 and he was named the young player of the tournament.
With a smart and prudent management, Bayern Munich have created a financial gulf between them and other Bundesliga teams, which has allowed them to build a better squad and perform consistently in Germany and Europe.
Here's the list of the top 10 most expensive signings by Bayern.
#10 Thiago Alcantara - €25 million
Thiago Alcantara was a player that Pep Guardiola greatly wanted Bayern to sign upon his arrival in Munich in 2013, was signed on a 4 year deal from Barcelona for €25 million, and the two were reunited from their days at the Catalan club.
A gifted player with marvelous technical skills, almost a magician with the ball on his feet, his strong passing and dribbling was crafted for the passing game by coaches like Guardiola. Although he's spent quite some time on the sidelines due to injuries during his stay in Munich, his performances have impressed the Bayern management which made him sign an extension till 2019.
#9 Medhi Benatia - €28 million
Medhi Benatia, the Moroccan international joined Bayern for €28 million on the backdrop of an excellent season at Roma, as a replacement for Javi Martinez, who suffered a long-term injury at the start of the season. His tenure at Bayern has been a rocky one as he has suffered from injuries one after another.
Benatia’s rock solid at the back with strong passing skills, aerial duels and making interceptions. An aggressive defender, he loves to tackle and hence commits fouls often. The defender did not settle well in Munich, and completed a loan move to Italian champions Juventus, with an option to buy at the end of the season.
#8 Mario Gomez - €30 million
Mario Gomez, the German international, joined Bayern from Stuttgart in 2009 for €30 million, where he shone continuously despite the rest of the team failing to do much to get better results. Initially unsettled in Munich, he also found his best scoring seasons in 2010-11 and 2011-12 when he netted 39 and 41 goals which kept him in the league of top scorers in Europe.
An injury to him in Euro 2012 became the root cause of his departure in the following season to Italian outfit Fiorentina, as his replacement Mario Mandzukic began superbly at Bayern and suited then coach Jupp Heynckes's requirements on the field.
#7 Manuel Neuer - €30 million
Manuel Neuer joined Bayern Munich in 2011 for €30 million, following excellent seasons at Schalke, where his superb performances were rewarded with the goalkeeper spot for Germany in the 2010 World Cup. Since then, there's been no looking back for him as his game has improved over the years and earned him the reputation of being the best in the world.
He has revolutionised goalkeeping to the next level with his role as a sweeper keeper which he has mastered by his supreme ability to read the game and anticipate it. He's won accolades across the globe due to his performances in recent times like IFFHS Goalkeeper of the year 2013, 2014, 2015, and L'Equipe's player of the year 2014. His performances have made the club offer him an extension till 2021.
#6 Douglas Costa - €30 million
In the 2nd half of Pep Guardiola's 2nd season at Bayern, both starting wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben got injured during the crucial part of their which resulted in their elimination from the Champions League. Bayern did not waste any time in signing a backup in Douglas Costa from Shakhtar Donetsk for €30 million.
The 25-year-old winger started his campaign in Munich in style and was brilliant in the first half of the season. The Brazilian speedster has impressed many in his debut season and fans are eagerly expecting more of him to come in the years to follow.
#5 Renato Sanches - €35 million
One of the hottest young prospects in world football at the moment, Bayern Munich signed the 18-year-old, Renato Sanches, right from under the noses of the likes of Manchester United, from Benfica for €35 million plus another €45 million in add-ons provided some contract targets are fulfilled. His impressive performances in Euro 2016 resulted in him winning the Young player of the Tournament award.
A box-to-box midfielder, Sanches is very versatile and can play anywhere in the attacking midfield positions, Bayern have undoubtedly made a steal given inflated market. His performances could've fetched anything skyrocketing after the Euros and club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has admitted that Bayern would not have been able to sign him had they approached him after the Euros.
#4 Mario Gotze - €37 million
The Golden boy of German football, Mario Gotze moved to Bayern Munich in 2013 much to the anguish of Borussia Dortmund fans, for €37 million which was his release clause.
Hailed as one of the brightest prospects in German football since his debut for the BVB, Pep Guardiola never could bring out the best in him and subsequent injuries set a further hindrance in his progress. Gotze, out of sheer frustration at the lack of opportunities, moved back to his youth club Borussia Dortmund to try to revive his career again on a 4-year deal till 2020.
#3 Arturo Vidal - €37 million
Arturo Vidal, the Chilean star, is in his second stint in Bundesliga, this time with a new club in Bayern Munich, after his previous spell at Bayer Leverkusen. One of the best box-to-box midfielders in the planet, Vidal signed a 4-year deal from Juventus for €37 million and was brought in as a replacement for Bastian Schweinsteiger who joined Manchester United last summer.
Vidal had a fairly impressive debut season with him being instrumental in the UEFA Champions League, which Bayern reached the semis. A physical player with gifted technique, Vidal is the ideal type of player Ancelotti, the new Bayern manager, loves to have in his midfield to control the game for Bayern.
#2 Mats Hummels - €38 million
One of the stalwarts of the current German national team, Mats Hummels signed a deal to return to his youth club, after spending 8 years at Borussia Dortmund, for a hefty 38 million euros. The arrival of Hummels is a major boost for the Bayern defense as he can attack as a ball playing defender, which is a huge plus for a central defender.
A technically gifted defender, he was sought after by many clubs, but his decision to return to his youth club is obviously a no-brainer. Given his qualities, he can even reach greater heights under the guidance of experienced coach Carlo Ancelotti.
#1 Javi Martinez - €40 million
The highest transfer in Bundesliga history till date, Bayern Munich fought off competition from clubs like Barcelona to sign Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2012. Bilbao were unwilling to sell but Bayern were relentless, determined and unmoved in their pursuit, despite their advances being warded off several times. Their perseverance paid off, as Martinez played a major role in his debut season in which Bayern ended up winning the treble.
Subsequent seasons followed, his fitness dipped a little, and lengthy injury layoffs have hit his form, but the club hierarchy trust his qualities and have not hesitated to tie him to a new contract till 2021.
