FEATURE | Analysing Borussia Dortmund’s transfer window

Borussia Dortmund entered the summer transfer window aiming to strengthen the squad while retaining its core after narrowly qualifying for the Champions League last season. This marked Niko Kovac’s first window as head coach, and while some fans may have been underwhelmed, the club’s business was generally solid.

Key departures included Youssoufa Moukoko, who was sold to Copenhagen for €5m after an unimpressive loan spell; Soumaïla Coulibaly, permanently transferred to Strasbourg for €7.5m; and Gio Reyna, who joined Borussia Monchengladbach for €4m. The most significant exit was Jamie Gittens, who moved to Chelsea for an initial €56m due to tactical misfit under Kovac’s preferred 3-4-1-2/5-3-2 system.

Dortmund made several important signings, securing Daniel Svensson and Yan Couto permanently for a combined €26.5m after successful loans, both fitting well as wing-backs in Kovac’s setup. The club also added Carney Chukwuemeka for €20m, Jobe Bellingham as a marquee €30.5m signing, and Fabio Silva for attacking depth. Defensive reinforcement came via Aarón Anselmino on loan from Chelsea.

Financially, Dortmund generated €72.75m in sales and spent €99.7m, effectively reinvesting the Gittens fee. The core squad remained largely intact, with strengthened options in midfield and attack through Chukwuemeka, Silva, and Bellingham.

However, defensive concerns persist due to injuries to Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Emre Can, alongside the untested Filippo Mane. Anselmino’s loan arrival appeared rushed, though he showed promise in his debut. The window fell short of ideal as Dortmund failed to sign a dedicated No. 6, which would have allowed Kovac to deploy Can centrally and addressed a key tactical need.