BORUSSIA DORTMUND

1 Oct 2025 - World Soccer
BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Chasing intensity and consistency

The good news for the vociferous massed ranks of Dortmund fans is that their club has made a habit of pulling out all the stops in the Champions League of late, losing finalists against Real Madrid in 2023-24 and making the quarter-finals 12 months later. The bad news is that they have a tendency to wait until their backs are against the wall before turning up. That was their exact modus operandi in the Bundesliga last season, dysfunctional for much of the campaign before sensationally securing Champions League qualification with win upon win in their last eight fixtures.

Summer signing... 

Jobe Bellingham - Tempo, urgency and combativeness are the watchwords for coach Niko Kovac, instructions that new midfield signing Jobe Bellingham, formerly with Sunderland in the English second tier, was only too happy to adhere to during an impressive baptism for the SchwarzGelben at this summer’s Club World Cup. “[Kovac] wants us to play with more intensity,” declared Jobe, whose elder brother Jude used Dortmund as a springboard to greatness. “We have to press aggressively and look to be on the front foot. With the quality we have here, we can be much more consistent.”

What were the headline deals in the summer transfer window?

The sale of English winger Jamie Gittens, a regular in this competition last season, to Chelsea for a deal worth around £50m helped fund a number of interesting incomings. Arriving in a reverse direction from Stamford Bridge was Carney Chukwuemeka after last season’s loan spell, forming an English engine room with Jobe Bellingham. The latter made an immediate impact on arrival, oozing selfconfidence and desire, while permanent deals for loanee full-backs Yan Couto and Daniel Svensson made perfect sense.

COACH 

Niko Kovac - The Croat pulled off a three-month miracle last term. Has racked up over 400 games in his coaching career.

KEY MAN

Serhou Guirassy - Nobody scored more goals in last season’s Champions League than the Guinean hot shot, who netted 13.

YOUNGSTER

Daniel Svensson - Sweden left-back who in the last few months has gone from anonymous mid-season recruit to Bundesliga revelation.

Former Wolves striker Fabio Silva has potential that he is so far yet to realise, but will help to bolster the attack after Sebastien Haller was allowed to leave for Eredivisie outfit Utrecht and Gio Reyna exited for Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Who is the best option in the role of holding midfielder?

This represents quite a dilemma for coach Kovac. Pascal Gross is not the fastest, while Jobe Bellingham, Marcel Sabitzer and Julian Brandt all offer more in attacking mode. Perhaps the best solution would be the deployment of the quick and dynamic Felix Nmecha. The former Wolfsburg man has failed to nail down a regular position since arriving in 2023, but he reads the game well and is snappy and accurate in his passing.

Is there enough attacking support for striker Serhou Guirassy?

Karim Adeyemi is one of the best wide forwards in the country and netted five Champions League goals last term, but can be enigmatic. Having had a year to settle at the club, BVB will also be hoping Maximilian Beier improves on his solitary goal in last season’s European campaign.