Revisiting Karlsruhe SC's Blockbuster Transfers: A Look Back
Karlsruher SC Sets historic transfer record with its most expensive signings and dismissals in club history.
The 2024/25 season may have just wrapped up, but the buzz is already building for the next, especially at Karlsruhe SC, gearing up for another run in the 2. Bundesliga. Recently, they've signed veteran Paul Scholl and are on the hunt for a new number one, as Max Weiß is jumping ship to FC Burnley for a significant transfer fee. The transfer market is expected to heat up this off-season.
As we take a break from the hype, let's rewind and check out some of the most jaw-dropping transfers in Karlsruhe SC's history. What's their record fee? Who's been the money-spinning player? Let's reminisce about the record-breaking transfers of Karlsruhe SC.
Karlsruher SC: Record-Breaking Signings in Perspective
Karlsruhe SC's biggest upfront investment is an oldie but a goodie. In 1994, they splurged a whopping 3.7 million euros to acquire the services of Thomas "Icke" Häßler from AS Roma. At the time, this was a hefty sum and still stands as the club's record signing. It's unusual that Häßler, an experienced world-class midfielder and team leader, remains their record transfer to this day, as most clubs' record transfers are more recent. Since 1996, Karlsruhe SC hasn't dropped more than one million euros for a player. Here's a recap of the club's record signings:
- Thomas Häßler: 3.70 million euros, joined in 1994 from AS Roma
- Alex Nyarko: 2.50 million euros, joined in 1997 from FC Basel
- Gunther Schepens: 1.50 million euros, joined in 1997 from Standard Liège
- Thomas Hengen: 1.25 million euros, joined in 1996 from 1. FC Kaiserslautern
- Antonio da Silva: 900,000 euros, joined in 2008 from VfB Stuttgart
- Dino Drpic: 900,000 euros, joined in 2009 from Dinamo Zagreb
- Dimitrios Diamantakos: 900,000 euros, joined in 2016 from Olympiakos Piraeus
- Radoslaw Gilewicz: 900,000 euros, joined in 1997 from VfB Stuttgart
- Christian Wück: 900,000 euros, joined in 1994 from 1. FC Nürnberg
- Adrian Knup: 850,000 euros, joined in 1994 from VfB Stuttgart
It's also worth mentioning that Karlsruhe SC is nestled comfortably in the mid-tier attendances of the 2. Bundesliga. Additionally, during the 2024/25 season, the club fielded one of the league's youngest teams. The youngest player in KSC history debuted in 2021.
Karlsruher SC: Cashing out on Departures
The 2025 summer transfer window has set a new milestone: Max Weiß has joined FC Burnley for a cool five million euros, setting a new departure record for the club. With Weiß's departure, the 21-year-old starting goalkeeper in the previous season, the KSC will feel the pinch.
Moving further back in history, the previous highest departure fee isn't as far in the past as the record signing. In 2015, Philipp Max bid the club adieu for a fee of 3.8 million euros[1], before moving to FC Augsburg, where he's currently playing for Panathinaikos Athens. Augsburg also shelled out 2.5 million euros for Tim Breithaupt's transfer in 2023, placing Augsburg fourth on Karlsruhe SC's list of record-breaking departures.
A true KSC legend takes third place on this list. Sean Dundee left the club in 1997, securing them 2.75 million euros. Dundee found a new home with FC Liverpool. Interestingly, Karlsruhe SC earned more money from its top 10 departures than it spent on its top 10 signings. Here's a breakdown of the club's record departures:
- Max Weiß: 5.0 million euros, moved to FC Burnley in summer 2025
- Philipp Max: 3.80 million euros, moved to FC Augsburg in 2015
- Sean Dundee: 2.75 million euros, moved to FC Liverpool in 1998
- Tim Breithaupt: 2.50 million euros, moved to FC Augsburg in 2023
- Stefano Celozzi: 2.50 million euros, moved to VfB Stuttgart in 2009
- Rouwen Hennings: 2.50 million euros, moved to FC Burnley in 2015
- Hakan Calhanoglu: 2.50 million euros, moved to Hamburger SV in 2012
- Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien: 2.50 million euros, moved to Eintracht Frankfurt in 1999
- Thorsten Fink: 2.50 million euros, moved to FC Bayern Munich in 1997
- Mehmet Scholl: 2.50 million euros, moved to FC Bayern Munich in 1992
By the way, ticket prices for the 2025/26 season at Karlsruher SC are on the up compared to the last season.
Enrichment Data:- Top Record Departure: - Hakan Çalhanoğlu, when playing for Bayer Leverkusen, landed a €14.5 million transfer to AC Milan in 2017[6], making it the highest departure for Karlsruhe SC.- Notable Transfers: - Vincenzo Grifo, who previously played for Karlsruhe SC, had a significant €8.5 million transfer from Augsburg to Wolfsburg in 2020[7]. - Marcel Risse, another ex-Karlsruhe SC player, joined 1860 Munich for a fee reported to be around €2.5 million in 2019[8].
If you're hunting for more in-depth or current data on Karlsruhe SC’s top departures, detailed club transfer archives, or specialized football transfer databases could provide a richer understanding of their transaction history.
[1] Transfermarkt.com, Phillipp Max[2] Transfermarkt.com, Max Weiß[3] Transfermarkt.com, Vincenzo Grifo[4] Transfermarkt.com, Christian Gentner[5] Transfermarkt.com, Filip Kaminski[6] Transfermarkt.com, Hakan Çalhanoğlu[7] Transfermarkt.com, Vincenzo Grifo[8] Transfermarkt.com, Marcel Risse
The record-breaking transfer of Thomas Häßler in 1994, for a fee of 3.7 million euros, still stands as the most expensive signing in Karlsruhe SC's history. In contrast, the club has seen significant departures, with Max Weiß's transfer to FC Burnley for a fee of 5 million euros in the summer of 2025 becoming the highest departure record for the club to date.
