Kehl's Legacy: Ranking Dortmund's Best Signings as Sporting Director Departs

Borussia Dortmund have parted ways with sporting director Sebastien Kehl, bringing an end to a three-and-a-half-year tenure that coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in the club's recent history.

The former Dortmund captain took the helm in summer 2022, arriving just as the club waved goodbye to Erling Haaland and his considerable goal-scoring prowess heading to Manchester City. What followed was a transfer window requiring considerable rebuilding, and plenty of comings and goings in the years since.

So how did Kehl fare in the transfer market? We've assessed his most significant signings to compile a definitive ranking of his best business.

10. Jobe Bellingham (€30.5m)

Eyebrows were raised when Dortmund pursued Jude's younger brother, particularly given the sizeable fee handed to Sunderland. The initial settling-in period proved challenging, though Jobe has latterly shown more encouraging signs of establishing himself in German football.

9. Karim Adeyemi (€30m)

The 2022 capture from Red Bull Salzburg represented a coup at the time, with Dortmund winning the race for a player considered among Europe's most promising talents. His Bundesliga record—35 goals across 143 appearances—reads respectably, though his deployment as a winger rather than a central striker provides some context.

8. Niclas Fullkrug (€17.25m)

Before his West Ham misadventure came to define his Premier League spell, Fullkrug delivered 15 goals in 43 Dortmund appearances. The club's decision to offload him netted nearly €10m profit within twelve months, a shrewd piece of business that offset an otherwise underwhelming on-pitch contribution.

7. Waldemar Anton (€22.5m)

Now into his second campaign following his 2024 arrival from Stuttgart, the 29-year-old German international has earned plaudits as a "defensive rock" in Bundesliga circles. Premier League scouts have reportedly taken notice of the centre-back's credentials.

6. Ramy Bensebaini (Free)

A no-cost acquisition from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bensebaini arrived with four seasons of top-flight German experience already under his belt. The creative repositioning from left-back to centre-back has proven particularly astute.

5. Daniel Svensson (€6.5m)

Arriving on loan from Nordsjaelland in February 2025 before a permanent switch that summer, the left-back wasted little time becoming a regular fixture. Sixty appearances in relatively quick succession represents solid return on a modest investment.

4. Felix Nmecha (€30m)

The 2023 acquisition from Wolfsburg has matured into one of the club's most indispensable midfield operators, his development rewarded recently with an extended contract. The €30m outlay appears increasingly justified.

3. Julian Ryerson (€5m)

Union Berlin's loss proved Dortmund's gain when they secured the right-back for a bargain €5m in January 2023. Over 100 appearances later, Ryerson delivered a particularly memorable display last month, orchestrating four assists in a single match against Mainz.

2. Serhou Guirassy (€18m)

Stuttgart's loss, Stuttgart's loss again—Dortmund poached Guirassy for €18m in 2024 and immediately reaped the rewards. A debut season yielding 21 Bundesliga goals from 30 appearances represents exceptional value, even if his age means substantial resale profit seems unlikely.

1. Nico Schlotterbeck (€20m)

The standout success story of Kehl's tenure, Schlotterbeck has evolved into one of Europe's most sought-after defenders since his 2022 arrival from Freiburg. A €20m investment now valued at €50m or more, the German international's 150-plus appearances have established him as a cornerstone of the defence. With his contract entering its final year, expect a summer scramble among Europe's elite to secure his signature.