Salih Özcan set to leave Borussia Dortmund after an underwhelming stint | OneFootball

When Borussia Dortmund signed Salih Özcan from Cologne in the summer of 2022 for 5 million Euros, many believed that it was a bargain. BVB hoped that Özcan would be an ideal replacement for Axel Witsel, who left for Atlético Madrid. Witsel, who made an instant impact after joining in 2018, was a tough profile to replace. But Özcan’s promising performance at his boyhood club suggested he might be the right man for the job.

Fast-forward to 2025, and Özcan’s impact at the Signal Iduna Park has been minimal. Emre Can was often preferred in the starting line-up, and after Jude Bellingham’s departure, Felix Nmecha made the central midfield role his own.

Eventually, players like Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross made the competition in midfield even tougher. Before the start of the current campaign, Özcan was loaned to Wolfsburg, where he made 11 league appearances in the Hinrunde.

When Nmecha sustained an ankle injury in January,  Özcan was recalled from his loan. However, even after his return, both he and the team had a poor run of form. Borussia Dortmund's recent positive results under Niko Kovac have coincided with Nmecha’s return to fitness, showing once again how difficult it is to replace the German midfielder.

Özcan has often been a liability in defense and failed to make the vital key passes expected of him. In terms of both progressive passes and tackles, the Turkish midfielder only ranks in the 23rd percentile in the league according to FBREF.

BILD has reported that Özcan is one of the players who are certain to leave in the summer, which already looks to be a very busy one for Dortmund. There seems to be a consensus among those who follow Dortmund closely that Özcan’s time has come to an end after he failed to live up to great expectations.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund are working on keeping Chelsea loanee Carney Chukwuemeka permanently after his impressive display in the second half of the season, according to BILD. Ozcan has had opportunities, but with Pascal Groß and Felix Nmecha doubtfully leaving, Özcan's prospect of minutes next season is virtually nonexistent. It's likely best for player and club to move on.