On the surface, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona do not seem to have much in common. The Bundesliga side sits a rung below the Blaugrana, still striving to attain the global recognition the La Liga outfit enjoys. However, take a closer look, and there are quite a few unmistakable similarities. Both teams boast loyal fanbases, have a proud tradition of developing world-class players, and have a rich history of playing attractive soccer.
Any player would be lucky to play for either of these two iconic clubs, but there are a handful of individuals who attained the ultra-rare feat of representing both. Continue reading to meet the top five players who have played for both Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.
#5 Marc Bartra
Rising through the ranks at La Masia, Marc Bartra started making inroads into the senior team in the 2009-10 season. The Spaniard tried his best, but he never managed to become one of Barca’s first-choice center-backs. Leading up to his transfer to Borussia Dortmund in July 2016, he played 103 games in all competitions, scoring six goals and providing six assists. He won a whopping five La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies with Barcelona, among other honors.
Bartra’s Dortmund spell lasted for just one-and-a-half years (July 2016–January 2018). He did his best, but Dortmund also passed on the opportunity to make him a fixture in the starting XI. Before leaving for Real Betis, Bartra played 51 matches, scoring five goals and providing five assists. He won the DFB Pokal with the Germans in 2016-17.
#4 Ilkay Gundogan
Versatile central midfielder Ilkay Gundogan joined Borussia Dortmund from 1. FC Nuremberg in July 2011. He hit the ground running at Dortmund, quickly becoming one of the first names on the team sheet. The German ruled Dortmund’s midfield with an iron fist until his departure to Manchester City in July 2016, recording 15 goals and 20 assists in 157 games across competitions. He helped the club to a Bundesliga title, one DFB Pokal, and two DFL Supercups.
After winning it all with Manchester City, Gundogan joined Barcelona as a free agent ahead of the 2023-24 season. He clocked five goals and 14 assists in 51 matches for the Catalans in his debut season. Despite his excellent showings, Barca chose to offload him in the summer, allowing him to re-join Manchester City without demanding a single dime for him.
#3 Ousmane Dembele
In July 2016, Borussia Dortmund signed talented youngster Ousmane Dembele from Stade Rennais for a €35 million ($36.8 million) fee. In his debut season, the Frenchman featured in 49 matches, scoring 10 goals and providing 21 assists. His performances landed him on the radar of many European powerhouses, but Barcelona beat them all with their winning bid of €135 million ($142.1 million).
Barcelona expected Dembele to become Neymar’s successor, but that did not turn out to be the case. Not only did he miss a plethora of matches due to various injuries over his six-year stay at Barcelona, but he also looked underwhelming in most of the games he was fit to play in. Before his departure to Paris Saint-Germain, Dembele played 185 games in all competitions, scoring 40 goals and providing 43 assists. He won three La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, and three Supercopas de Espana with Barca.
#2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Borussia Dortmund from Saint-Etienne in July 2013. Over the following four-and-a-half years, he became Dortmund’s sweetheart, scoring stunning goals and taking them to important wins. During his stay, Aubameyang played 213 games for Dortmund, finding the back of the net 141 times and providing 36 assists. He won one DFB Pokal and two DFL Supercups with Borussia Dortmund.
Aubameyang spent the following four seasons of his career at Arsenal. The first three-and-a-half years were excellent, but he fell out with Mikel Arteta in the first half of the 2021-22 campaign. Following the fallout, he joined Barcelona as a free agent on January 31, 2022. Unfortunately, due to financial turmoil, Barca could not keep Aubameyang, with them generating €12 million ($12.6 million) from selling him to Chelsea in September 2022.
Over the course of his brief stay, Aubameyang played 24 games, scoring 13 goals. He helped Barcelona win the 2021-22 La Liga title.
#1 Robert Lewandowski
One of the best strikers of the 21st century, Robert Lewandowski became a household name during his four-year stint at Borussia Dortmund between 2010 and 2014. The Polish center-forward played 187 games for Dortmund in all competitions, scoring 103 goals and providing 42 assists. His goal contributions helped Dortmund win two Bundesliga titles, one DFB Pokal, and one DFL Supercup.
Lewandowski spent the following eight seasons of his career at Bayern Munich. Having won it all in Bavaria, he joined Barcelona in a €45 million ($47.4 million) deal in July 2022. He has since played 116 games, scoring 82 goals and providing 19 assists. At Barca, Lewandowski has won one La Liga title, one Supercopa de Espana, and one Pichichi Trophy.
