BVB end Kehl contract: multi-million payout revealed | OneFootball

After more than 24 years, the time shared by Sebastian Kehl and Borussia Dortmund is finally coming to an end. The former BVB sporting director is reportedly set to receive compensation worth millions and has already been linked with several clubs.

Borussia Dortmund and Sebastian Kehl are officially parting ways for good. As BILD reports, both sides have agreed to terminate the contract, which had originally been due to run until 2027. The former sporting director is said to receive severance pay of around €1.5 million.

BVB had already ended its collaboration with the 46-year-old at the end of March. Now the last remaining formality has also been settled. After more than two decades at the club, Kehl is now officially free to take on a new role. According to Sky, Tottenham Hotspur are still considered a possible next destination. In addition, according to BILD, Werder Bremen, VfL Wolfsburg, and Hamburger SV are also closely monitoring the situation.

The split came as a surprise to many observers. Kehl had once left his mark on the club as a player, winning three German championships with Dortmund and being part of the 2012 double-winning team. After his playing career, he worked for BVB as an executive from 2018 onward, initially as head of the licensed players department and later as sporting director.

BVB says goodbye to Sebastian Kehl

Behind the scenes, however, there had reportedly been differences for some time. According to consistent reports, the relationship deteriorated in particular after Hans-Joachim Watzke decided to appoint Lars Ricken as managing director. Kehl himself had ambitions for the post. In the months that followed, cooperation between Ricken and Kehl is said to have become increasingly difficult.

Photo: IMAGO

Outwardly, however, both sides tried to strike a conciliatory tone. Ricken said in March: “In a very open conversation, Sebastian Kehl, Carsten Cramer and I came to the shared conclusion that summer is the right time for changes.” At the same time, he emphasized: “Sebastian has made enormous contributions to our club, and we are very grateful for his great commitment.”

Kehl himself also described it as a mutual decision. They had come to the realization “that the time has come to go our separate ways.” On Friday evening, the long-time BVB professional will be officially bid farewell by the fans at Signal Iduna Park before the club’s final home match of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday evening (8:30 p.m.).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.