After winning the first leg 2-0, Borussia Dortmund suffered a humiliating 1-4 defeat in Bergamo, a result that has put the club’s future at risk on multiple fronts. Camel breaks down the full impact of Dortmund’s Champions League elimination and what this massive financial shortfall means for the club going forward.
Missing out on €11 million in UEFA progression prize money is nothing short of a financial disaster. Even transfer negotiations surrounding Nico Schlotterbeck (26) have been cast into doubt. Starting with the Klassiker against Bayern Munich, the team has also been given fresh instructions by the club’s management for the remaining league fixtures.
The outlet notes that Dortmund had already budgeted for the €11 million UEFA bonus for reaching the last 16; the loss now creates a huge gap in the club’s financial planning. Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl (46) told reporters after the final whistle: “It’s not a good situation. Qualifying for the next round and the corresponding income were part of our plans. We will now conduct an internal analysis, learn from this and draw conclusions.”
On Thursday, listed company Borussia Dortmund (BVB) even had to release an interim statement. Its previous profit/loss forecast for the current financial year – ranging from -€5 million to +€5 million – has been revised to -€12 million to -€22 million. In the worst-case scenario, this single defeat translates to a loss of up to €27 million – a catastrophe for the club.
The direct consequence: to cover the resulting losses, Dortmund will have to sell another top player this summer. Potential high-value assets include Nico Schlotterbeck (26, expected fee around €60 million), Serhou Guirassy (29, from €45 million), Karim Adeyemi (24, from €60 million) and Felix Nmecha (25, from €70 million).
Going forward, the club will also strengthen performance-linked clauses for high-earning players. Due to its wage bill, Dortmund records heavy losses each season that must be offset by other income.
The club’s hierarchy is undertaking a complete rethink of its squad planning. Contracts for Niklas Süle (30) and Salih Özcan (28) are due to expire, and the club has already decided against extending them. Contract offers for injury-plagued captain Emre Can (32) and playmaker Julian Brandt (29) will at the very least be reconsidered.
Other stars face scrutiny too: Marcel Sabitzer (31, under contract until 2027) has once again failed to take the new chance handed to him by Niko Kovač and is increasingly becoming a financial burden for the club. Players such as Mohamed Simakan and left-back Daniel Svensson (24) have proven they are not at Champions League level and could at least be dropped from the starting lineup in the future.
The reality is that everyone in charge at Dortmund must reflect seriously. Sporting Directors Lars Ricken (49) and Sebastian Kehl (46) are responsible for a squad that is clearly failing to hit top standards. High-profile summer signings Jobe Bellingham (£20m/£30m), Koni Chukwuemeka (£22m/£20m) and Fábio Silva (£23m/£22.5m) have all failed to perform at the highest level.
The contracts of both executives, as well as club president Carsten Cramer (57), run until 2027. The club plans to hold extension talks with Cramer and Ricken in the near future.
The club effectively ruined its season in just five days: first a 2-2 draw in Leipzig, followed by the 1-4 thrashing in Bergamo. The title is now out of reach; Dortmund sit comfortably second in the league, 8 points behind Bayern and 6 clear of Hoffenheim. With what objectives can the team motivate itself for the rest of the campaign? Kehl stated clearly: “In the coming weeks, we will give everything to finish as high as possible in the Bundesliga table. That is the task for all of us and the responsibility of the team.”
The stakes for Saturday’s title-deciding Klassiker against Bayern Munich have risen sharply after the Bergamo humiliation. Despite being at home, the atmosphere is expected to be one of criticism rather than celebration. Bold title claims from Schlotterbeck, Brandt and others now look farcical. Another defeat would only compound all existing problems. Dortmund are under immense pressure to repair their damaged image, at the very least.
