Borussia Dortmund have reversed the trend and confirmed the free transfer of a Bayern Munich star.
Bayern have been no strangers to recruiting some of Dortmund's best players over the years, most notably snapping up Robert Lewandowksi in 2014.
Mario Gotze and Mats Hummels also moved from Dortmund to Bayern, with both players eventually returning to their old club.
Advert
But Dortmund have returned the favour by securing the services of Niklas Sule on a free transfer.
The 26-year-old defender will join Dortmund at the end of the season, penning a four-year deal.
The Bundesliga outfit have fended off fierce competition, beating the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Newcastle United to the signing of the German international.
Sule is in his fifth season at Bayern and will call time on his spell at the club in the summer.
He'll earn a reported €10 million (£8.5 million) - plus add-ons - per year at Dortmund.
Sule will bring a wealth of experience to Dortmund, having played over 200 top flight games in Germany between his spells at Hoffenheim and Bayern.
On the addition of Sule, sporting director Michael Zorc said: "We are pleased that we were able to sign a German international in Niklas Sule on a four year deal."
Sebastian Kehl, who'll replace Zorc at the start of next season, added: "Niklas has shown us during the talks that he is very interested in Borussia Dortmund.
"He has a lot of experience, calmness in the build-up play & the necessary physique to take the next step with us starting from the summer."
Topics: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Football
Nasir Jabbar