Borussia Dortmund confirm sudden Kehl exit with immediate effect | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the surprise departure of sporting director Sebastian Kehl, with the decision taking immediate effect. The club said in a statement that the move was agreed unanimously after talks on Sunday.

The announcement arrived one day after Dortmund’s 3-2 win over Hamburger SV, signalling an abrupt shift behind the scenes.

Kehl returned in 2018 to lead the professional players department, a role he held for four years and which included the DFB-Pokal triumph in 2021. He became sporting director in summer 2022, overseeing the run to the UEFA Champions League final in 2024.

During internal discussions, Kehl, Carsten Cramer and Lars Ricken concluded that the summer is the right moment for changes, so they mutually agreed to end Kehl’s contract now to allow both sides to prepare. Ricken, a former team-mate who lifted the 2002 Bundesliga title with Kehl, paid tribute to his significant contribution.

Kehl said Borussia Dortmund has shaped half his life and that, while the connection remains strong, both parties agreed it was time to move forward. He expressed pride in roughly 24 years at the club, thanked team, staff and fans, and wished BVB success with its restructuring.

Dortmund have not indicated who will assume Kehl’s responsibilities or when a replacement might be named.

Source: BuLi News