Winds of change are set to blow at the Signal Iduna Park this summer as Borussia Dortmund are staring at a potential squad overhaul following a promising campaign that ultimately finished without a trophy.
Niko Kovac's first full-season in charge was full of encouraging records and milestones but also glaring issues that need to be addressed before the side can truly compete for silverware on all fronts.
One way to address them can be offloading some of the deadwoods in the squad and making space for fresh legs who can deliver in their place. With that in mind, here are five players that Dortmund really need to get rid of this summer:
Emre Can
Following back-to-back injury-riddled campaigns for the Borussia Dortmund skipper, it's perhaps time the club shows him the door. The 32-year-old also lacked consistency when fit and at 32, looks old and worn-out already. Time for a new leadership at the back.
Marcel Sabitzer
This may come as a surprise but if you think about it, Marcel Sabitzer didn't really do anything worthwhile to prove his value in the squad throughout 2025-26 season. His form yo-yoed between good and ridiculous, with his erratic nature of performances on the field that make him unreliable. He has to go.
Yan Couto
Borussia Dortmund's €20 million investment in the Brazilian seems like an expensive waste less than a year since Yan Couto's transfer from Manchester City. But it's not entirely his fault. Julian Ryerson just had the best season of his life with 18 assists to his name and is likely to continue as the preferred choise of right-back/right wing-back for Kovac. That leaves Couto without a choice but to look for greener pastures elsewhere.
Fabio Silva
Fabio Silva costed €2 million more than Couto last summer to become their biggest signing by numbers but the Portuguese winger failed spectacularly to prove his value. While he's an effective substitute who can turn things around late on, Silva lacked the edge to lead the side when starting. Regardless of whether Serhou Guirassy stays or leaves, Silva clearly isn't someone who can be relied upon for goals.
Karim Adeyemi
Yes, a return of 10 goals and 10 assists in the league is admirable. But there's more to it than what meets the eye. Adeyemi suffered a cataclysmic fall from grace in the second half of the season, with his goals drying up and the German going from sublime to ridiculous. His disciplinary issues on the field didn't serve him any good either, with reports of tensions between him and Kovac also flirting around midway through the season. Dortmund don't want this drama.
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