Top 10 Bayern Munich's worst signings
Bayern Munich is one of those football clubs that has achieved its status organically, rather than through multi-million-dollar foreign investment, despite having some important brands supporting them. This is achieved, among other things, by good transfer management. However, especially recently, the Bavarian club has opted to shift somewhat from its austere philosophy to making large investments that haven't always paid off. Hence, this list of signings that have gone wrong only includes players who have already left the club, and they are listed in any particular order.
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Ciriaco Sforza - here as manager
Ciriaco Sforza
The Swiss midfielder Ciriaco Sforza was a curious case because he didn't have one disappointing spell at Bayern, but two. After being a promising young player in his home country, he signed for Kaiserslautern at the age of 23, where he stayed for two seasons and became one of the best in his position in the German league. Bayern moved in and signed him, but he only stayed for a year as he failed to establish himself or perform at a high level. He spent a year in Italy (at Inter) and returned to Kaiserslautern where he had another three very good seasons, and this made Bayern bet on him again, although the week result was again the same.Torsten Frings
Another midfielder who stood out long before his arrival in Bavaria, first at Werder Bremen and then at Borussia Dortmund. Bayern signed Torsten Frings with the expectation that he would become a key player for the team for many years to come. However, he often played out of position and didn't feel comfortable at the club, which led to him being sold just a year later to Werder Bremen for €5 million (almost half of what they had paid for him).Jose Ernesto Sosa
Bayern Munich signed Jose Ernesto Sosa as a promising youngster from Estudiantes de la Plata for €9 million, which, for reference, was slightly less than the fee paid a couple of seasons earlier for Torsten Frings, who was already an established Bundesliga player and a German international. After three years in Bavaria, he only managed to score two goals and provide four assists. Bayern later sold him to Napoli for €3 million.Breno
After a striking breakthrough at Sao Paulo at just 18 years old, several top European clubs, including Real Madrid, were interested in him, but it was Bayern Munich who finally sealed his signing in 2008 for €12 million. He never really established himself at the Bavarian club, partly due to his poor performance and partly due to the injuries that plagued him during his time in Germany. However, Breno's situation went beyond the purely sporting, as he was sentenced to prison for the suspicious fire at the house where he lived in Germany.During the case, Breno's lawyer stated that the player was under the influence of potentially dangerous substances, and Bayern Munich reportedly recommended that he seek psychological help due to his frustrations with his recurring injuries. Upon his release from prison, Breno was hired by Bayern to coach one of their youth teams.
Corentin Tolisso
In 2017, Bayern Munich broke their own and Bundesliga records for the most expensive signing, paying Lyon €41.5 million for Corentin Tolisso. While he performed well in his first season, his form gradually declined, and by the end of his time in Bayern, he was plagued by injuries. In 2022, his contract with Bayern expired and he returned to Lyon for free.Mario Götze
Mario Götze was one of the great breakthroughs in German football over the last two decades. In 2010, before he had even completed a full season in the Bundesliga, he was called up by Joachim Low to the Germany national team. At Dortmund, he established himself as one of the team's best players, forming a feared partnership with Marco Reus. In 2013, Bayern Munich paid Gotze's release clause (€37 million), making him the most expensive German player in history at the time. In his early days in Bavaria, he managed to make a significant impact, but gradually lost ground to the point that he decided to return to Borussia Dortmund three seasons after leaving, stating that he regretted leaving the club at the time.
Renato Sanches
In 2015-16, Renato Sanches made his debut for Benfica's first team and at the end of that season was called up to the Portugal national team for the 2016 Euros, which the Iberian nation would go on to win. He was named Best Young Player at that tournament, prompting Bayern to pay €35 million for him. The signing included clauses that, if met, would bring the total payment up to €80 million. He spent three seasons with Bayern, but one of them was on loan to Swansea City. He never enjoyed continuity or good performances, and he even clashed with the board in his final season, seeking to force his departure, which ultimately resulted in his departure to France and Lille.
Sadio Mané
The Senegalese Sadio Mané arrived at Bayern in 2022 for €32 million, after being one of the Premier League's best players and part of a feared Liverpool trident alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. While the signing was good on the sporting level, without being what you'd expect from a player of his caliber, it was the off-the-field nature of the move that landed Mane on this list.In April 2023, after a painful 3-0 defeat against Manchester City, Mane hit his teammate Leroy Sane, for which he was sanctioned by the club. This led to his relationship with part of the dressing room breaking down, leading to his eventual departure for Saudi football just a year after arriving.
Lucas Hernández
In 2019, Bayern Munich once again broke their own record and the Bundesliga record for the most expensive signing by signing the French defender Lucas Hernández for €80 million. The player was plagued by injuries for much of his time at the Bavarian club, which prevented him from establishing himself as a regular and established player. Four seasons after his arrival, he was sold to Paris Saint-Germain for half of what they initially paid for him.Bouna Sarr
Finally, we round out the list with another defender, also born in France but a Senegal international. In 2020, Bouna Sarr signed for Bayern for €9 million, a transfer that was striking given that he wasn't a player who had the profile for a club of that level and was already 28 years old, so he wasn't a promising youngster either.In four years, he made 33 appearances for the club in all competitions and was criticized and even mocked by some Bayern executives. In 2024, he left for free at the end of his contract.