Released by City, in shadows of his older brother for years and now - he's worth €80,000,000!

Felix Nmecha was rewarded earlier this week for his outstanding performances with Borussia Dortmund, signing a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2030. Shortly after the announcement, German media began revealing details of the deal.

According to Bild, Dortmund have doubled the midfielder's salary from €5 million to €10 million per year. At the same time, Sky Sports Germany reports the figure could rise to as much as €14 million with bonuses.

For Dortmund, that is serious money. Especially considering that the highest salary in the club's history once belonged to Marco Reus, who earned around €12 million annually during his prime. All figures, of course, are before tax.

That means Nmecha, 25, the son of a German mother and a Nigerian father, could soon become the club's best-paid player ever.

Even if the bonuses are not triggered, the Hamburg-born midfielder will still be the top earner in the current squad. Niklas Sule, who also earns around €10 million per season, is expected to leave when his contract expires this summer, with no signs of an extension.

German outlets also report that the new agreement includes two release clauses. The first becomes active in July 2027 and would allow Nmecha to leave if a club offers €80 million. A year later, the clause would drop by €10 million.

Those numbers might not look extraordinary in the context of modern football, but when placed next to the story that shaped Nmecha's career, they suddenly become far more interesting.

Because Felix Nmecha was never considered the family's real talent.

From an early age, he followed in the footsteps of his older brother Lukas Nmecha, widely regarded as the far more gifted player. When Manchester City spotted Lukas as a youngster, the club agreed to bring Felix along as well - essentially as part of the deal.

Years later, when Lukas moved to Wolfsburg in 2021 for €8 million, Felix once again followed him. In football terms, he arrived as little more than an add-on - what some might call a 'trailer' attached to the main transfer.

Dortmund in black and white? Exactly one hundred reasons for that

At the time the contrast between the two brothers was stark. Lukas arrived in Germany, valued at €18 million by Transfermarkt, already a German international and seen as a potential future striker for Germany national football team.

Felix, by comparison, was valued at just €700,000 and was allowed to leave Manchester City on a free transfer.

Then came the twist.

A series of injuries in Wolfsburg's midfield opened the door for the 20-year-old, and suddenly Felix Nmecha emerged as the revelation of the team. While Lukas initially impressed with goals and strong performances, his form dropped dramatically in the following seasons.

Felix, meanwhile, rose like a phoenix.

He cemented a place in the starting lineup, became one of the team's pillars and began attracting attention from bigger clubs. In October 2022, he produced a run of six consecutive matches with either a goal or an assist.

By the end of that year, he was already negotiating with Dortmund. In June, the deal was completed for €30 million.

Today, the brothers' careers have taken very different paths. Lukas returned to England with Leeds United, where injuries and inconsistent form have seen his market value drop sharply.

Felix, on the other hand, is enjoying the best period of his career. According to some reports, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann even sees him as a potential starter at the next FIFA World Cup, possibly forming a midfield double pivot with Aleksandar Pavlovic or Leon Goretzka.

Nmecha's journey has not been without controversy. A devout Christian, he has often faced criticism in Germany for his views and social media posts, some of which were labelled homophobic. He drew particular backlash after linking the word "pride", commonly used by the LGBTQ+ community, with the devil. He also faced criticism after expressing sadness over the killing of American activist Charlie Kirk.

Those were not easy moments in his life.

But Nmecha endured the pressure, and remained true to his beliefs. Now, standing on the crest of success, he is waiting for the next big step in his career.

"I belong to Jesus," he once said. "It's not a slogan - it's for life. Talent may make you visible, but faith keeps you grounded, humble and moral."

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 26

Friday

22.30: (2.00) M' gladbach (3.50) St.Pauli (4.20)

Saturday

17.30: (1.43) Dortmund (5.00) Augsburg (6.60)

17.30: (1.55) Eintr.Frankfurt (4.30) Heidenheim (5.50)

17.30: (1.50) Hoffenheim (5.00) Wolfsburg (6.10)

17.30: (5.00) Leverkusen (4.90) Bayern (1.60)

20.30: (2.15) Hamburger (3.45) Koln (3.35)

Sunday

17.30: (2.35) Werder (3.50) Mainz (3.15)

19.30: (2.15) Freiburg (3.30) Union Berlin (3.50)

21.30: (2.35) Stuttgart (3.90) RB Leipzig (2.90)

***odds are subject to change***