Borussia Dortmund enters the 2026/27 Bundesliga season with a clear ambition: to propel its young generation to the title. This is according to a season preview published by bvbbuzz.com. The Black and Yellows finished as runners-up last season, amassing 64 points from 29 games with a record of 19 wins, seven draws, and just three defeats. Their last league championship, however, dates back to 2012, making the hunger for a new one palpable.

How has the squad changed this summer?

The summer transfer window brought significant changes to the squad. Experienced players Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi departed. In their place, Dortmund invested in youth. Greek talents Konstantinos Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias arrived. The midfield was bolstered by the signing of Joey Veerman from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of 22 million euros. Defensive reinforcements came in the form of Joane Gadou from Red Bull Salzburg and Justin Lerma from Independiente del Valle. Brazilian Kaua Prates joined from Cruzeiro. A future project is Japanese youngster Takato Yamamoto, signed from Gamba Osaka for 1.5 million euros, who will initially develop with the youth team.

Who impressed during the pre-season?

Pre-season was affected by many first-team players missing due to World Cup involvement. This opened doors for young prospects. Samuele Inacio and Konstantinos Karetsas seized their opportunities. Karetsas even scored on his debut in a 3-2 friendly win against Arsenal in London. Under head coach Niko Kovac, now entering his second full season, the team underwent a 28-day preparation with six friendlies. Results were mixed, featuring a 1-0 loss to Cerezo Osaka, a 1-0 win over FC Tokyo, the victory against Arsenal, and a 2-2 draw with AS Roma.

What tactical tweaks is Kovac implementing?

Niko Kovac experimented with some positional changes during pre-season. Defender Daniel Svensson is set to be deployed in right midfield, while Julian Ryerson will shift to left midfield. This flexibility could prove vital in a long season with multiple competitions. In defense, Kovac will continue to rely on the stability of Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini. Dortmund's defense was the league's best last season, conceding only 29 goals. Their attack was also potent, scoring 60 times, though it left them 12 points behind perennial champions Bayern Munich.

What challenges does Dortmund face at the start?

The injury list poses a significant early-season challenge. Alongside the long-term absence of Nico Schlotterbeck, Carney Chukwuemeka and Ramy Bensebaini are also sidelined. Emre Can is currently injured as well. These absences force the team to improvise and offer further chances to academy talents. The current squad status can be tracked on our injuries page.

The season kicks off on August 29, 2026, at home against Hamburger SV, who currently sit 13th in the table. For Borussia Dortmund, it's the first step in a long campaign where its young squad must prove it can handle the pressure of being title contenders. The full schedule for the coming months is available on our fixtures page. The development of these young players will ultimately determine if BVB can truly challenge for the top spot.