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Ousmane Dembele’s rise to the top was spectacular!
He dropped and bounced back again.
Many expected him to grab the headlines in Barcelona, but it happened in PSG. His career experienced a rejuvenation at a time it appeared he was out of contention.
Signed for close to 140m Euros by Barcelona and allowed to leave for about 50m Euros, that’s the story of Dembele’s rise and fall. But he found his form again.
Everything good that didn’t happen in Barcelona, was experienced at PSG. Then, he was crowned Ballon d’Or winner. The biggest individual award in football.
A huge power shift for Paris Saint-Germain and Dembele.
He is now one of the ten players to have won the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or in their career.
Rennes
On November 6, 2015, he made his professional debut for Rennes’ first team in Ligue 1 against Angers and by May 2016, he headed for Borussia Dortmund.
He was named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year.
Borussia Dortmund
Dembele signed a five-year contract for Dortmund on May 12, 2016, which became effective, on July 1.
At the end of the season, Dembele’s impact was huge as he helped Dortmund win the 2017 DFB-Pokal, which was their first major title in five years.
A rare feat for the young talent who was just in his first season with the club.
After scoring six goals and recording 13 assists during season 2016–17, Dembélé was named to the Bundesliga Team of the Season and awarded the league’s Rookie of the Season award.
From one season in Ligue 1, where he attracted Dortmund’s attention with 12 goals in 26 matches, another season in the Bundesliga was enough to make one of the biggest clubs in the world, Barcelona, turn to him.
Barcelona
The Catalan side had just sold Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for €222 million and needed a replacement. They turned to Dembele!
On August 25, 2017, Barcelona announced a deal has been agreed with Dortmund to sign Dembélé for a record €105 million plus a reported €40 million add-ons.
His buyout clause was set at €400 million.
A good deal for a talent that spent just a year out of his five-year contract.
According to reports, his Ligue 1 club, Rennes, received a reported €20 million from Borussia Dortmund as a result of the sale, while his youth side, Évreux 27, were also benefited from the deal.
Good business for all!
Back to France: Bad business for Barcelona
Barcelona got more than what they bargained for.
Dembele’s Barcelona days were defined by injuries, absences, and unfulfilled expectations. It was obvious he had to leave and PSG opened their doors.
From 140m Euros to 50m Euros. Wasted efforts.
He returned to France with fresh hopes as well as dreams and PSG gave him another opportunity.
Dembele grabbed it, worked harder and ensured he was able to rewrite a beautiful story.
Truth be told, his numbers last season were ruthless.
Thirty-five goals, fourteen assists, and a positional switch that transformed him from erratic wide man to devastating centre-forward, carrying PSG through Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the Champions League.
He now stands alongside Zidane and Benzema as one of only three French Ballon d’Or winners of the 21st century.
For PSG fans, he is the first French man to win the prestigious title in the red and blue colours of the club.
