Dortmund's need for additional fullbacks is rather immediate, hence this brings into question whether they should even wait until 2026 to activate a buyback clause. If Rothe continues to perform and develop, next season might be the time for Dortmund to try and speed up his return. While winter will of course not be possible, one could envision a scenario where Dortmund offers a sum closer to the upper echelons of the reported buyback estimate for Rothe's services.
While it's rather unfortunate that Dortmund could look to provide a financial outlay for a player they already had in their midst but deemed surplus to requirements, it wouldn't be the first time that the club had done this and found success, nor would it be the most expensive option either. Club legend Marco Reus was brought back from Borussia Mönchengladbach for 20 million euros in the 2012/13 season after initially leaving the club after his time in the academy did not yield his desired breakthrough into first-team football.
This sum would eventually be seen as an extremely shrewd move considering the level of impact Dortmund's former number 11 had over more than a decade at the club. It's far too early to say whether Rothe would have a similarly impactful return to Dortmund, but it is yet another story of Dortmund realizing what they had only when it was well and truly gone. His talent however underlines that he can be a very strong re-addition to this Dortmund side if he plays to his potential and continues to develop in this positive fashion.