Waldemar Anton was brought to Borussia Dortmund as a reinforcement for the defense line. Borussia Dortmund managed to sign him by activating a release clause, outbidding Bayer Leverkusen. The transfer involved a fee of 22.5 million euros. The competition for Anton's signature was intense, with interest also coming from Atlético Madrid and FC Liverpool. However, Anton chose Borussia Dortmund, aiming to take on a leadership role despite facing challenges such as playing through injuries.