Kahn was 25 and had spent his whole career at Karlsruhe. Bayern bought him as a successor rather than a star, and he became the most demanding presence at the club for a decade and a half.
He won eight Bundesliga titles, the 2001 Champions League — saving three penalties in the shoot-out — and was named best player at the 2002 World Cup, still the only goalkeeper to receive that award.
Why it worked: the club identified the best German goalkeeper before the market did, then let him stay long enough to define the position at the club.
On the fee
The figure above is a reported fee. Bayern, like most German clubs, do not confirm transfer amounts, so contemporary press reporting is the best available record and add-ons are rarely disclosed. Where a fee is disputed, this site says "reported around" rather than quoting a false precision.