Borussia Dortmund enters the new Bundesliga season with clear ambitions to mount a serious title challenge against Bayern Munich following last season's runner-up finish. Head coach Niko Kovač has bolstered his squad with three young signings, while key midfielder Felix Nmecha has been secured on a long-term deal.
The Black and Yellows finished the previous campaign in second place with 64 points, securing 19 wins and suffering only three defeats in 29 matches. They scored 60 goals and conceded 29, resulting in a solid +31 goal difference. However, the current injury list includes important players like Nico Schlotterbeck, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Ramy Bensebaini, which could complicate the early phase of the season.
Sporting director Ole Book, appointed in March 2026, continues to emphasize a strategy focused on signing and developing young talent. In the summer of 2026, BVB signed 19-year-old defender Joane Gadou from Red Bull Salzburg. From Belgium arrived 18-year-old attacker Konstantinos Karetsas from Genk. The third addition is 23-year-old Greece international Giannis Konstantelias from PAOK Thessaloniki.
Konstantelias scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in 40 competitive matches last season. Regarding him, Book said: "We see a lot of potential in him and are convinced that he fits very well into our team." The move for the midfielder was contentious; PAOK Thessaloniki fans attempted to block the transfer at one stage. Karetsas and Gadou made early positive impressions, both scoring in a 3-2 friendly win over Arsenal.
Felix Nmecha has developed into a cornerstone under Kovač. The midfielder moved from Wolfsburg to Dortmund in 2023 and recently extended his contract until 2030. His strong performances in the 2025/26 season earned him a call-up to Germany's World Cup squad.
Managing director Lars Ricken stressed Nmecha's importance: "He fully identifies with Borussia Dortmund and is a key component of our strategic squad planning." Nmecha's consistency in the center is vital for Kovač's system, especially during a period with defensive absences documented on our injuries page.
The friendly match results were mixed. An initial 3-1 win against Rot-Weiss Oberhausen was followed by defeats to Fortuna Düsseldorf (1-2) and Cerezo Osaka (0-1). A 1-0 victory over FC Tokyo and the mentioned win against Arsenal provided positive momentum. The final preparatory match ended 2-2 against Roma.
The official season opener in the Supercup, however, brought a 1-2 defeat to arch-rivals Bayern Munich. This result highlights that the gap to the record champions, which stood at 16 points last season, still needs to be closed. The team currently sits twelve points behind Bayern in the standings, based on the final table from last season.
The Bundesliga starts for Dortmund with a home match against Hamburg, followed by away games at TSG Hoffenheim and another home fixture against SC Paderborn. The clash in Hoffenheim on September 5, 2026, will be an early test, as the opponent currently sits in sixth place. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
The major question is whether the squad has sufficient depth to compete consistently across the entire season. It has been 14 years since the club's last Bundesliga title. The objective for 2026/27 is clear: the team must consolidate the 17-point improvement from last season and find the consistency to pressure Bayern into the spring. A top-four finish looks within reach, but the ambition at Signal Iduna Park is always higher. The development of the young newcomers and the return of injured players will significantly shape the campaign's trajectory.
