Acted as a candidate at HSV
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A big bang at Borussia Dortmund: The Black and Yellows and sports director Sebastian Kehl amicably go their separate ways. BVB officially announced this on Sunday afternoon. The 46-year-old Kehl has been in office as the successor to club icon Michael Zorc since the summer of 2022. Criticism of him had recently increased and he was also linked to a possible move to Hamburger SV. After Stefan Kuntz’s departure, the North Germans are looking for a new sports director via a headhunter. Kehl is said to be one of the candidates.
BVB managing director Lars Ricken explained the separation as follows: “In a very open conversation, Sebastian Kehl, Carsten Cramer and I came to the common conclusion that the right time for changes had come in the summer. So that both sides could prepare for this, we mutually agreed to an immediate termination of Sebastian’s activity. Sebastian and I also have a long history in common. We not only played together for Borussia Dortmund, but also became German champions together in 2002. Sebastian has enormous We are very grateful to him for his service to our club and for his great commitment.”
Kehl said: “Borussia Dortmund has been with me for half my life and I have an extreme connection to this great club. Nevertheless, we have now developed the feeling together that it is time to go new ways – both for BVB and for me. Lars, Carsten and I came to this conclusion today in a constructive conversation. I have a lot to thank Borussia Dortmund for and am proud to have been part of the BVB family for around 24 years. During this time I have had so many incredible successes “I will be able to celebrate with the club, its employees and its fantastic fans and it will always make me proud to be part of the club’s history. The field here is set, I wish the club only the very best in its realignment and the greatest possible successes. Borussia Dortmund, the incredible stadium and the south stand will always have a permanent place in my heart.”
Carsten Cramer, spokesman for the BVB management, added: “The separation from Sebastian Kehl naturally means a break in our sporting management level. In order to push forward the changes to be initiated with a view to the new season and also to give Sebastian time for the next steps in his professional future, the separation is logical at this point in time. We would like to thank Sebastian for his commitment, his identification and his successes and wish him all the best for his future.”
Club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke said: “As President of Borussia Dortmund, I would like to thank Sebastian Kehl personally, but also on behalf of all members. When I took over the management in 2005, Sebastian had already become German champion with BVB for the first time. Together we have celebrated great successes in more than 20 years and suffered some painful disappointments. Sebastian Kehl already has a permanent place in the annals of Borussia “I wish him all the best for his personal future and the greatest possible success for his future career.”
Kehl extended his role as BVB sports director at the beginning of 2025 – transfer balance
Kehl only extended his contract as sports director in Dortmund in January 2025. The new working paper was valid until 2027. Ricken said at the time: “In the past few weeks we have had intensive discussions about content, structures and economic issues and have now brought them to a positive conclusion. Our primary goal is clear: we want to be continuously represented in the UEFA Champions League in the next few years and play the necessary role in the Bundesliga. In order to achieve these goals, we will continue to combine all our strengths. Sebastian, as sporting director, has my full support on this path.”
Since the summer of 2022 – when the previous head of licenses Kehl succeeded Zorcs – the Dortmund team has invested 363 million euros in new additions, including 30.5 million euros for Jobe Bellingham, 30 million euros for Felix Nmecha and 28.5 million euros for Maximilian Beier. In return, the Westphalians received 354 million euros for sales, which means an almost balanced transfer balance under Kehl (-8.6 million euros). The Bundesliga clubs Bayer Leverkusen (-9 million euros), Union Berlin (-15 million euros), HSV (-19 million euros), VfL Wolfsburg (-66 million euros) and FC Bayern (-88 million euros) suffered a larger transfer loss in the comparable period because expenses exceeded income. Meanwhile, clubs such as Eintracht Frankfurt (+141 million euros), VfB Stuttgart (+108 million euros), RB Leipzig (+62 million euros) and Mainz 05 (+51 million euros) managed to generate a significant increase in transfers during this time window.
