Dortmund’s Summer Transfer Plans – Who Might be Coming to Westfalenstadion
The summer transfer window will be open before we know it, with Borussia Dortmund fans feeling as though the club has a lot to do to get things back on track after a disappointing season.
Having made it the Champions League final at the end of the 2023-2024 campaign, the hope was that BVB would be able to kick on and take the fight to the likes of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga.
Instead, things fell apart to the extent that Nuri Şahin was sacked and replaced. The question, what do the club’s transfer plans look like once the window actually opens?
Revitalising the Midfield
The simple truth of the matter is that Dortmund have struggled to replace Jude Bellingham since the English midfielder left for Real Madrid two summers ago. One of the key areas that Die Schwarzgelben will therefore be looking to strengthen in the summer is in the midfield.
Carney Chukwuemeka arrived on loan from Chelsea in January, only to see his time at the Westfalenstadion mired by injury. He has impressed since returning to fitness, however, and there is a suggestion that Niko Kovač may push for the club to make his move permanent in the coming months.
@bvb.1909__ Never fall in love with a loan player!😶🌫️ I love his style of play, his eye, his movement. Everything makes sense, no matter what he does with the ball! No one in our squad has even close to his vision and technique. If we could keep the boy fit, he would be BVB’s next sick ball player! He would be the perfect number 8/10, and with Nmecha in midfield, he would be an unstoppable duo! The boy hasn’t even come close to reaching his full potential yet; there’s still so much in him if he stays injury-free!🤌🏻 #bvb #borussiadortmund #carneychukwuemeka #fyp ♬ Original sound – bvb.1909__
Given the fact that the club is so clearly missing the talents of Bellingham, it is perhaps little wonder that a link to another one has been made. There are rumors that Der BVB might look to bring Jobe Bellingham in from Sunderland, with offers of around €20 million likely to prize the midfielder away from the Black Cats.
Another option is that of James McAtee, who impressed on loan at Sheffield United but has struggled to gain a more regular place in Pep Guardiola’s side. Any decision around selling him might well depend on the result of the investigation into the 130 charges against the club regarding financial misbehavior, however.
Old Faces Leaving & Returning
The idea of an old face coming back to the Westfalenstadion won’t fill many supporters with much joy, considering the fact that the club has looked slow and plodding at times during the season. Even so, the possible return of Mats Hummels would pull on the emotional heartstrings of many.
The defender has announced plans to retire at the end of the current campaign, but may be persuaded to give it at least a few more months if his former club comes calling. The injury to Nico Schlotterbeck means that Die Borussia are short at the back ahead of the Club World Cup in the summer.
The management of Borussia Dortmund is intensively thinking about a return of Mats Hummels, but not yet as a position in the club but as a “standby” player for the Club World Cup.
🗞 @BILD
#BVB
— BVB Newsblog ( @bvb-newsblog.bsky.social ) April 11, 2025 at 11:39
Meanwhile, the club’s most senior player at present, Julian Brandt, might be leaving during the summer window. The player and his father have been looking at potential options in the wake of a lack of a new contract being offered by Der BVB.
Having played just shy of 200 games for the club, Brandt has worked under numerous different managers and enjoyed some success, scoring more than 30 goals in the black and yellow. He was a big part of the reason why Dortmund were able to finish second two seasons ago and make the Champions League final last time out, so his departure would be keenly felt.
Tightening up at the Back
At the time of writing, Borussia Dortmund have conceded 47 goals in the Bundesliga. That is one of the worst defenses outside the relegation battle, with only one other team in the top-half of the table having conceded more. As a result, the general feeling is that the club could do with strengthening at the back.
Part of that could include doing a deal with Nordsjælland in order to keep left-back Daniel Svensson at the club, but much more needs to be done in order to give both players and supporters the sense that Der BVB are genuinely looking to stop leaking so many goals.
One link being made is to Robin Koch. The Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back is rumored to have a release clause of around €20 million, which might make him an appealing prospect. Part of the reason why Frankfurt sit in the Champions League places is that they have conceded fewer goals than Dortmund, so you can see the appeal.
Álex Valle, the FC Barcelona defender, is another one that Die Schwarzgelben is being linked with. He is only young and has been on loan with Italian side Como 1907, so the idea might well be to bring him in on loan, but the release clause of €6 million might also appeal.
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The final name that might interest Dortmund fans is that of Jarell Quansah.
While it is unlikely that Premier League champions Liverpool would be willing to sell the young centre-back, the idea of him gaining some more experience at a club with high expectations through a loan move might well tickle Arne Slot’s fancy.
