Dedê signed for Germany's Borussia Dortmund for the 1998–99 season, aged only 20. He made his Bundesliga debut on 14 August 1998, being stretchered off in the early minutes of an eventual 1–2 away loss against VfB Stuttgart, but finished his first campaign with 29 appearances as the Black Yellow finished fourth. In the following season, Dedê was joined at Borussia by compatriot Evanílson, and the two proceeded to form an efficient wingback partnership in the following four years, being essential as the club won the 2002 league and reached the season's UEFA Cup final (with the player appearing in a total of 45 official games during the campaign, scoring once); he never appeared in less than 30 games from 2004–08. Afterwards, as his countryman before him, Dedê also begun suffering with injury problems,[1] also facing stiff left-back competition from younger Marcel Schmelzer. He only appeared in 33 league matches in his last three seasons combined, including just four in 2010–11 for his second national championship.
