Serhou Guirassy's Future at Borussia Dortmund in Doubt

Serhou Guirassy is edging towards the exit at Borussia Dortmund. Not because of the city, not because of the coach as a person, but because of the football.

According to Sky Sport, the 30-year-old has made up his mind to leave BVB this summer, unsettled by Niko Kovac’s playing style and hungry for a new challenge at what is, unmistakably, the peak of his career. The relationship with Kovac is said to be good. The fit on the pitch, less so.

A €40m dilemma

On paper, Guirassy is a dream asset. A €40 million release clause, a proven Bundesliga scorer, and a contract running until 2028. Since arriving from VfB Stuttgart in 2024, he has produced 21 goals and six assists in 45 appearances for Dortmund – numbers that normally trigger a bidding war.

Yet the clause lies untouched.

Seven top clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester City, could simply press the button and sign him. None has moved. Instead, the chase is forming just below that tier. AC Milan, Fenerbahce and Tottenham Hotspur are circling and would need to negotiate directly with Dortmund rather than rely on the clause.

That gives BVB time, but not comfort.

Inside the club, there is no appetite to lose him. The hierarchy remain impressed by his output and wary of the cost and difficulty of finding a comparable replacement in a market where goals are priced at a premium. Sporting director Ole Book has already sat down with Guirassy, and the charm offensive is only just beginning. Lars Ricken and Kovac are expected to join the next round of talks as Dortmund try to pull their No. 9 back from the brink.

The message from the club is clear: stay, and be central. The message from the player is just as clear: the football has to change, or he will.

Ramaj loses his place – and faces an uncertain return

While Dortmund wrestle with a star striker’s future, another BVB player is dealing with a very different reality.

Until last weekend, Diant Ramaj was 1. FC Heidenheim’s first-choice goalkeeper. Then came Cologne. A 3-1 away win, a big result in the relegation fight – and no Ramaj in goal.

Instead, Frank Schmidt turned to Frank Feller.

“Frank Feller went into pre-season as our potential number one, then he got injured and was out for months. Recently, his form in training has been top-class. We haven't won many away games, but we have to win today. We're rewarding him for his performances, and maybe he'll bring us a bit of luck too,” Schmidt explained before kick-off.

The decision did not blindside Ramaj. He “expected” the demotion, Schmidt revealed, pointing to the brutal honesty that defines his dressing room.

“We’re very clear in our communication. We don't beat about the bush and leave players in the dark; we always tell it like it is. Even if it's rubbish, we say so. That's what we thrive on – that team spirit,” said the coach, whose side can still realistically hope to avoid relegation after that win at FC.

For Ramaj, the immediate future looks like the bench for Saturday’s season finale against Mainz 05. After that, he returns to Dortmund when his loan ends in the summer. BVB only signed the 24-year-old from Ajax Amsterdam in February 2025, tying him down until 2029, a move that looked like long-term planning in goal.

Now, that plan is under review. WAZ has reported that the Bundesliga runners-up are also considering selling the keeper. In a single season, Ramaj has gone from long-term project to possible trade asset.

Youth on the big stage

While the senior squad wrestles with contract talks and loan puzzles, Borussia Dortmund’s next generation has a trophy in its sights.

On Tuesday at 8 pm, a combined U19/U23 side will contest the final of the Premier League International Cup against a Real Madrid selection – a showcase not just of talent, but of the club’s identity.

The competition stretches over several months and brings together England’s top U21 teams and elite international youth sides. Dortmund have carved a hard-earned path to the final. In the group stage, they beat Leeds United, West Ham United and AFC Sunderland, qualifying despite a defeat to Manchester United. In the knockout rounds they knocked out Everton in the quarter-finals and then Real Sociedad in the semi-finals at the end of April.

Now comes Real.

“Real are a typical Spanish side who have a lot of possession, play dominantly and press high up the pitch,” said U19 coach Felix Hirschnagl as he looked ahead to the final. U23 coach Daniel Rios underlined that Dortmund will not abandon their principles just because the stakes are higher: “We're not going to change our approach now and become significantly more defensive. We are convinced that our style of play—both with and without the ball—gives us the best chance to beat a very strong opponent.”

The squad reflects that ambition. Filippo Mane, Almugera Kabar and 16-year-old Mathis Albert are all involved, with Albert already having tasted the Bundesliga in the 4-0 win over Freiburg at the end of April.

For Guirassy, the question is whether Dortmund’s style can evolve quickly enough to keep him. For Ramaj, it is whether Dortmund still see him as part of their long-term picture. For the youngsters in the Premier League International Cup final, the future is more straightforward.

They just have to win their game – and force Dortmund to make room for them.