Council Proposal Advocated by the Commission
Borussia Dortmund, the German football powerhouse, is gearing up for the new season with a significant overhaul of their squad, following substantial income from player sales and the FIFA Club World Cup. The sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, has confirmed that the team will make strategic transfers to bolster their ranks for the upcoming campaign.
The team's recent defeat in the Club World Cup quarter-finals at the hands of Real Madrid did not deter their ambitions. Kehl emphasised that Dortmund does not wish to compare themselves to the Spanish giants but acknowledged the tasks they still have in the world of football.
Coach Niko Kovac admitted that the team's performance in the first half of the Club World Cup match was too slow and static. However, Maximilian Beier scored the only goal for Dortmund against Real Madrid, a testament to their resilience.
Dortmund's focus is primarily on strengthening their attack, with proceeds from the sale of Jamie Gittens to Chelsea expected to bring in about €65 million. This revenue will be used to bolster their offensive options, though it remains unclear if they plan a direct replacement for Gittens. Names linked with Dortmund's offensive rebuilding include Johan Bakayoko from PSV Eindhoven and Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich, both targets amid competition from French clubs.
Simultaneously, Dortmund is also negotiating transfers to enhance their midfield, notably targeting young talents like Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham. The club faces challenges in offloading players who have struggled for playing time or bear high wages, such as Gio Reyna, Salih Ozcan, Niklas Süle, Marcel Sabitzer, Emre Can, and loaned Youssoufa Moukoko. Sales of these players are expected to create necessary squad and salary space for new signings.
Borussia Dortmund's CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, has expressed mixed feelings about their transfer income strategy, acknowledging profits from player sales but emphasising a preference for retaining their best players rather than continual selling. This reflects Dortmund’s broader ambition to maintain competitiveness by investing in quality rather than relying excessively on player sales.
In a related development, Dortmund has sold Youssoufa Moukoko and Soumaila Coulibaly, who were previously loaned by the club, bringing in around 12 million euros. The club is also expected to sign a new kit deal with Puma, which could bring in over 300 million euros by 2034.
Carsten Cramer, Dortmund's marketing director, acknowledged the advantages gained from being involved in FIFA's money-printing machine. The Club World Cup alone earned Dortmund around 45 million euros in prize money, while the team also earned approximately 100 million euros in three weeks, mainly from the Club World Cup and player transfers.
However, these earnings came at a cost. The costs for the USA trip and player bonuses amounted to around ten million euros and three million euros respectively. Despite these expenses, Borussia Dortmund finds itself in a "luxurious situation" to work in, according to Carsten Cramer.
In the Club World Cup match, Marcel Sabitzer had a chance to score for Dortmund, but Thibaut Courtois made a brilliant save. The match was played in front of almost all spectators who were Real Madrid fans, highlighting the challenge Dortmund faces in competing on the global stage against teams with larger fan bases.
Despite these challenges, Borussia Dortmund remains committed to shaping its squad this summer by reinvesting transfer income and prize money primarily into attacking reinforcements and midfield strengthening, while also managing player departures to optimise the squad under Kovac’s project.
Sebastian Kehl, the sporting director, announced that Borussia Dortmund will use the income from player sales and the FIFA Club World Cup to make strategic transfers, with a focus on strengthening their attack, considering the proceeds from the sale of Jamie Gittens. The team's marketing director, Carsten Cramer, acknowledged that these earnings have come at a cost, but Dortmund finds itself in a "luxurious situation" to invest in quality, particularly in football finance.
