Borussia Dortmund has submitted its squad for the Champions League group stage. Head coach Niko Kovac's team registered 24 players on the A-list with UEFA.
The announcement comes as BVB enjoys a solid start to the Bundesliga season. After one matchday, the club sits fifth in the table with three points and a goal difference of +2. The next challenge is an away fixture against 1899 Hoffenheim on Friday.
Three notable names are absent from the official European competition registration. Captain Emre Can, who suffered a knee injury in March, is not included. Big-money signing Giannis Konstantelias is also sidelined. The arrival from PAOK Thessaloniki sustained a knee cartilage injury. Eighteen-year-old Colombian midfielder Justin Lerma is out with a muscle injury picked up in a U21 match.
These absences add to existing personnel issues. According to the latest update on our injuries page, centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck and left-back Ramy Bensebaini are also currently unavailable. Kovac addressed the situation briefly, stating: "Sollte sich jetzt mal Urlaub nehmen."
UEFA rules allow a maximum of 25 players on the A-list, with at least eight required to be locally trained. Dortmund did not use the full quota, submitting 24 names. Additionally, five youth players are on the B-list and available for selection: goalkeeper Jan Luca Riedl, midfielders Miguel Adje and Luca Reggiani, and defenders Samuele Inacio and Mathis Albert. These players can be used without prior registration.
The full current squad overview is available on our squad page. Tactical flexibility will be tested severely in a demanding group stage.
Dortmund's European campaign kicks off on Tuesday at 21:00 with a tough away match at Villarreal. The complete season schedule can be found on our fixtures page. This is followed by trips to Norwegian champions FK Bodö/Glimt and Azerbaijani side Sabah FK.
The home games at Signal Iduna Park will be against Spanish side Real Betis, English giants FC Arsenal, and Italian record champions Inter Milan. The final two group matches are away at Aston Villa and at home against AEK Athens.
The submission of the final squad marks the official start of the European season. The team must cleverly handle the personnel shortages to succeed in the new "Swiss Model" league phase. The complete Bundesliga table situation can be tracked via standings. Borussia Dortmund's next competitive match is away at 1899 Hoffenheim on September 5, 2026.
