Serhou Guirassy's Future at Borussia Dortmund: Transfer Speculations

Serhou Guirassy is edging towards the exit at Borussia Dortmund. Not because of the city, not because of the coach as a person, but because of the football.

According to Sky Sport, the 30-year-old striker has made up his mind to leave BVB this summer. The relationship with Niko Kovac is said to be good, but the way Dortmund play under the new coach does not suit him. At an age where every season counts, Guirassy wants a different stage and a different script.

His contract runs until 2028 and includes a €40 million release clause. Seven heavyweight clubs have the option to trigger it – Real Madrid and Manchester City among them – yet none has moved. The giants are watching, not acting.

Instead, the chase is forming elsewhere. AC Milan, Fenerbahce and Tottenham Hotspur are all circling, but they cannot simply press the clause and walk away. To land the Guinean international, they would need to sit down with Dortmund and negotiate, because the clause is not currently being activated.

Inside BVB, nobody is ready to give up. Guirassy has delivered since arriving from VfB Stuttgart in 2024: 21 goals and six assists in 45 appearances. Those numbers are not easy – or cheap – to replace, and the hierarchy knows it.

Sporting director Ole Book has already met the forward. Lars Ricken and Kovac are expected to join the next round of talks as Dortmund mount a full-court press to convince him to stay. They see a proven scorer. He sees a system that does not quite fit. Something has to give.

While Guirassy weighs up his future, another Dortmund asset is wrestling with his own uncertainty – this time from a different vantage point: the bench.

Ramaj loses his place – and faces a crossroads

Until last weekend, Diant Ramaj was the undisputed number one at 1. FC Heidenheim. Then came Cologne away, a 3-1 win, and a surprise name on the teamsheet: Frank Feller.

Frank Schmidt did not hide the reasoning.

"Frank Feller went into pre-season as our potential number one, then he got injured and was out for months. Recently, his form in training has been top-class. We haven't won many away games, but we have to win today. We're rewarding him for his performances, and maybe he'll bring us a bit of luck too," the Heidenheim manager explained before kick-off.

The call dropped Ramaj to the bench, but it did not blindside him. He had "expected" the demotion, Schmidt revealed, underlining the blunt honesty that governs his dressing room.

"We're very clear in our communication. We don't beat about the bush and leave players in the dark; we always tell it like it is. Even if it's rubbish, we say so. That's what we thrive on – that team spirit," said Schmidt, whose side kept their survival hopes alive with that victory in Cologne.

Ramaj will probably watch again from the sidelines when Heidenheim close their season against Mainz 05 on Saturday. Then his loan ends, and he heads back to Dortmund.

BVB only brought the 24-year-old in from Ajax Amsterdam in February 2025. His deal at the club runs to 2029, a long contract for a goalkeeper whose role is now up in the air. According to WAZ, Dortmund are even considering a sale despite finishing as runners-up. Another Dortmund player, another summer of questions.

Youth on the big stage

Not every story around Dortmund right now is about doubt. Some of it is about opportunity.

On Tuesday at 8 pm, a combined Borussia Dortmund U19/U23 side will play for a trophy – the Premier League International Cup – against a Real Madrid selection.

The tournament stretches over months and matches England’s top U21 teams with leading international academies. Dortmund navigated the group phase between December and January by beating Leeds United, West Ham United and AFC Sunderland, advancing despite a defeat to Manchester United. Then came Everton in the quarter-finals, Real Sociedad in the semi-finals at the end of April. Both were brushed aside.

Now it is Real Madrid.

"Real are a typical Spanish side who have a lot of possession, play dominantly and press high up the pitch," said U19 coach Felix Hirschnagl as he looked ahead to the final. U23 coach Daniel Rios made it clear Dortmund will not retreat into a shell: "We're not going to change our approach now and become significantly more defensive. We are convinced that our style of play—both with and without the ball—gives us the best chance to beat a very strong opponent."

The squad reflects that conviction. Filippo Mane, Almugera Kabar and 16-year-old Mathis Albert are all involved. Albert already has a Bundesliga debut on his record, having featured in the 4-0 win over Freiburg at the end of April. Now he chases international silverware with his peers.

As Dortmund’s senior figures try to hold on to Guirassy and decide what to do with Ramaj, their academy teams step into a European final with no such hesitation. One club, three very different battles – retention, resolution and ambition – all converging on a summer that will say a lot about where BVB are really heading.