How Dembele went from €105m Neymar replacement to Barca's Enemy No.1

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 20 Jan 2022 06:13 CST
• 5 min read

In August of 2017, Barcelona made Ousmane Dembele one of the most expensive players ever when they signed him for an initial €105 million from Borussia Dortmund.

The Frenchman was signed as an expected replacement for Neymar, who left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee of €222m.

Eyebrows were raised when Barcelona decided to spend so much money on such a raw youngster - the talent was there, but when he signed for the Blaugrana he only had two senior seasons of football under his belt.

The deal has proved to be one of the most disastrous in the history of football.

After four-and-a-half years with Barcelona, Dembele is now set to leave either on a free transfer in the summer of 2022 or for a knockdown price in the January transfer window.

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Barcelona have attempted to negotiate a new deal with the player and his representatives, but outrageous alleged wage demands have hampered any progress up until this point.

Now, the club will attempt to sell him this month, with sporting director Mateu Alemany announcing on Thursday:

“It’s clear that Dembele does not want to continue with Barcelona. He doesn’t want to be part of our project.

“We told Dembele he has to leave immediately. We expect Ousmane to be sold before January 31."

So, how did we reach this point?

Dembele's first year at Barcelona

August 2017 - Barcelona signs Dembele

After one senior season with Rennes and one with Dortmund, Barcelona take a punt on Dembele's talents and sign him to replace Neymar.

September 2017 - Dembele debuts for Barcelona

Dembele comes on as a second-half substitute in a league match against Espanyol to make his debut, and even records an assist for Luis Suarez.

September 2017 - First start and first injury

Dembele made his first start for Barca against Getafe but suffered a serious hamstring injury that would rule him out for four months.

January 2018 - Injury setback

Dembele returns against Real Sociedad, but suffers another issue, ruling him out for a month.

La Liga and Copa del Rey winner

The Frenchman won the league and cup double in his first season with the club, but only made 14 starts in that campaign.

Overall injury issues

Dembele has a shocking injury record, and as of January 2022 has played just over half of available matches since signing in 2017.

April 2021 Contract winding down

Fast forward a couple of years, and Dembele is asked whether Barcelona have attempted to renew his deal, which expires just over a year later. He responds:

“My future? I still have a year of contract left.

“There has not been a discussion with the club yet, I’m happy, and I feel good.

“Then there is the new president who has arrived and whom I do not know too well, but he is very close to the players.

May 2021 - Dembele is forced to defend his professionalism

Stories emerge in the Spanish press that Dembele does not take care of himself away from the training pitch, regularly eating junk food and playing video games until late before sessions.

He strongly denies these claims.

June 2021 - Latest major injury

Dembele makes an appearance for France at the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament and sufferers another hamstring injury that will rule him out for four months, thus missing the start of the upcoming season with Barca.

Dembele's contract talks

September 2021 - Contract talks begin

Positive stories emerge from the club that Barcelona and Dembele will sit down for talks over a new deal, and it is expected that the player will put pen to paper.

1 December 2021 - Ultimatum given

At the beginning of December, Barcelona give Dembele until 15 December to finally make up his mind about his future. He doesn't.

4 December 2021 - Barca announce Ferran Torres signing

Dembele is reportedly unhappy that Barcelona sign Ferran Torres, not only because he plays in the same position, but because the club had previously told him how tight money was.

Xavi then publicly says it is Dembele's fault that Torres cannot yet be registered to play as the wage bill must be lowered.

8 January 2021 - Dembele's wage demands revealed

A story emerges from Spain that Xavi is left "speechless" by Dembele's alleged contract demands.

It was been reported that Dembele’s demands stand at €43 million per year, plus a possible €7m in add ons.

His agent Moussa Sissoko would later hit back at claims of greed.

19 January 2022 - Xavi says Dembele must decide future or leave

Xavi, again, expresses a desire for Dembele to stay, but insists that the player will have to leave in January if he does not sign a new deal.

19 January 2022 - Barca threaten legal action

Barcelona allegedly put plans in place to take Dembele to court if he does not leave or sign a new contract.

20 January 2022 - Alemany releases statement

Alemany reveals that Dembele does not want to remain at the club, while the forward has been told he must leave.