Borussia Dortmund are not hanging around: A round-up of every summer signing made by BVB so far
They often say too many too many cooks spoil the broth, but for Borussia Dortmund this summer, it seems they can’t get their hands on enough cooks, already signing seven players before the Bundesliga transfer window has even opened.
It was always set to be a big summer in the Ruhr Valley, with Erling Haaland’s seemingly inevitable departure confirmed after Manchester City landed the Norwegian sensation for a little over £50m, an absolute snip in the current market.
With Marco Rose also axed, succeeded by the ever-affable and highly-regarded Edin Terzic, and long-term sporting director Michael Zorc stepping down, replaced by ex-Borussia Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl, BVB embark on a new era.
Not keen to hang around and loiter as their competitors strengthen, Dortmund have sought to get their business done early this summer, already bringing in nine fresh recruits as they seek to mount a genuine title challenge against perennial champions Bayern Munich.
Quantity over quality is what every fan covets, but there is something exciting about bringing in several names, a Football Manager fantasy made reality. Keep track of Dortmund’s business down below…
Karim Adeyemi
From: Red Bull Salzburg
Fee: £32.1m
The 20-year-old Munich-born marksman is just the latest precocious forward to rise to meteoric prominence at Red Bull Salzburg, who have once again seen their ranks plundered, with Brenden Aaronson moving to Leeds United and Karim Adeyemi joining Borussia Dortmund.
Already capped three times by Germany, Adeyemi scored 23 goals in Austria across 2022/23 and proved an eye-catching sharpshooter in this season’s Champions League, winning more penalties than any other player (four, double his closest challengers Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski).
On paper, Adeyemi in an ideal heir to Haaland’s No. 9 throne. Although they boast contrasting playing styles, with Haaland more explosive and physically-imposing, Adeyemi has the requisite final-third attributes to emulate the Norwegian’s scoring prowess and alleviate the gaping void he’s left.
Erling Haaland for Red Bull Salzburg:
◉ 27 games
◉ 29 goals
◉ 5 assistsKarim Adeyemi for Red Bull Salzburg:
◉ 92 games
◉ 33 goals
◉ 16 assistsBVB are loyal customers. 😅 pic.twitter.com/DXAthghj5g
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 10, 2022
Niklas Sule
From: Bayern Munich
Fee: Free transfer
In a bizarre twist of fate, Dortmund have managed to lure a key Bayern player to the Westfalenstadion and not the other way around. A bruising centre-back who is adept with the ball at his feet and defensively adroit, Sule’s towering frame belies a confidence in possession that will suit Dortmund’s rhythmic playing style.
Heavily linked with Chelsea, owing to the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, Sule ultimately decided to run down his contract in Bavaria and remain in his homeland, hoping some of his title-winning gold dust can rub off on a club seeking to win the Meisterschale for the first time in over a decade.
Nico Schlotterbeck
Nico Schlotterbeck has won more duels (226) than any other defender in the Bundesliga so far this season and the third-most in the division overall.
And he hasn't made a single error leading to a shot. 👏 https://t.co/oedlSOM0rD
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 2, 2022
From: Freiburg
Fee: £21.3m
Coming in to partner Sule, Nico Schlotterbeck was one of the stars of 2021/22 in the Bundesliga as the 22-year-old helped marshal SC Freiburg’s defensive line as the club secured its highest Bundesliga finish in nearly a decade, reached their first-ever DFB-Pokal final and clinched European football in the process. It was a remarkable season for Breisgau Brazilians and Schlotterbeck was a cornerstone of consistency in that success, earning his first caps for Germany in the process.
Salih Ozcan
From: Cologne
Fee: £4.3m
The Cologne-born midfielder was born into a family of wrestlers so BVB will be hoping he can bring some fight to the middle of the park. The 24-year-old was a fan favourite in the carnival city and recently earned his first cap for Turkey. The tough-tackling, tenacious ball-player has all the requisite attributes to slot into Terzic’s midfield and bring a bit of bite and passing fluidity.
Jayden Braaf
From: Man City
Fee: Free transfer
Could history be about to repeat itself? The last time Dortmund snagged a City youngster it earned them around £80m as Jadon Sancho completed a move to Manchester United last summer. The powers that be at the Westfalenstadion are trying their luck again with Jayden Braaf. The promising teenage tyro was earmarked for the very top when he moved from PSV to City in 2018, but ill-luck with injuries has seen him seek a change of scenery, venturing for pastures new in the Ruhr Valley and hoping to follow a similar trajectory to that of Sancho.
Marcel Lotka
From: Hertha Berlin
Fee: Undisclosed fee
The capital club sought to retain Lotka’s services after he broke into the first team towards the latter stages of the season just gone, but the pulling power of BVB ultimately proved too much and they have secured the promising ‘keeper’s signature for an undisclosed fee. Fun fact, Lotka was in the Schalke 04 during his academy days. Not sure how the Dortmund fans will feel about that.
Alexander Meyer
From: Jahn Regensburg
Fee: Free transfer
A shrewd back-up replacement for the outgoing Roman Burki and Marwin Hitz who have joined St. Louis City SC and Basel respectively.
Valentino Vermeulen
From: FC Eindhoven
Fee: Free transfer
The 20-year-old right-back-cum-right-midfielder was mightily impressive in the Dutch second tier last season as FC Eindhoven came within touching distance of returning to the Eredivisie, only to lose out to ADO Den Haag in the play-offs. Vermeulen has now sought pastures new and will be testing his skills for Borussia Dortmund’s second team in 2022/23, hoping to impress enough to feature at the Westfalenstadion.
Mario Suver
From: Nuremberg
Fee: Undisclosed fee
Another who is set to join BVB’s second team, Suver hailed from Stuttgarter Kickers as a precocious centre-back talent before joining Stuttgart and most recently Nuremberg. The former Croatia U17 international has now made a big leap to Dortmund, and like Vermeulen, will be hoping to make an impression for Borussia Dortmund II.
