Borussia Dortmund began their 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign with a dramatic 3-3 draw against St. Pauli at the Millerntor-Stadion on August 23, 2025.[1] Jobe Bellingham made his Bundesliga debut, and Karim Adeyemi replaced Beier in attack, while right-back Yan Couto returned from an injury scare to start the match.[1] The starting XI for Dortmund was: Kobel – Mané, Anton, Bensebaini – Couto, Groß, Sabitzer, Svensson – Jobe – Guirassy, Adeyemi.[1]
On the transfer front, Borussia Dortmund are pushing to finalize several late window deals. According to multiple reports, the club is close to signing Wolves forward Fabio Silva, with Bild claiming the 23-year-old is “close to completing a move” and expected to inject energy into Dortmund’s attack as a backup or potential partner for Serhou Guirassy.[2] Silva has attracted interest from RB Leipzig and AS Roma, but Dortmund appear to be leading the race.[2] The urgency comes from concerns over squad depth and over-reliance on Guirassy, particularly highlighted by head coach Niko Kovac before the season opener.[2]
Further negotiations are underway with Chelsea over Carney Chukwuemeka and Aaron Anselmino.[3] Chukwuemeka, who scored once in 17 appearances during a loan at Dortmund last season, is pushing for a return. Chelsea have rejected a loan with obligation to buy, insisting only on a permanent transfer; the proposed package is around €25 million, including a sell-on percentage, for Chukwuemeka, while Anselmino is expected to join on a straight loan with no buy option.[3] Anselmino, a 20-year-old defender, has already shown interest in joining Dortmund for more playing time and potential Champions League exposure.[3]
Several transfers have been confirmed for the squad. Full-backs Yan Couto and Daniel Svensson are now permanent signings for €20 million and €6.5 million, respectively, and backup goalkeeper Patrick Drewes joined from Bochum.[6] Dortmund’s main summer investment so far is Jobe Bellingham, acquired for €30.5 million after his impressive spell with Sunderland and contributions in Dortmund’s pre-season, including the FIFA Club World Cup.[6] However, the club is still looking for replacements up front following Jamie Gittens’ €56 million move to Chelsea.[6] Reports also mention potential interest in Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) and Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton), as well as young defenders Juan Gimenez and Hector Fort, though significant additional signings depend on player sales.[6]
The Bundesliga transfer window remains open until September 1, and further moves are expected as Dortmund seek to reinforce their squad for domestic and European competition.[4]
References
- [1] Bulinews: Confirmed lineups: St.Pauli vs. Borussia Dortmund
- [2] EPL Index: Wolves Set to Lose Another Star as Borussia Dortmund Close In
- [3] Chelsea News: Dortmund progressing on double deal for Chukwuemeka and Anselmino
- [4] Bundesliga.com: Official Bundesliga transfer centre: Summer 2025
- [6] Get German Football News: What can we expect from Borussia Dortmund in the final weeks of the transfer window?
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