Borussia Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken has confirmed the Bundesliga club remain active in the summer transfer market and are seeking multiple additional signings.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, the 50-year-old outlined plans to bring in “one, two, three more really good transfers” before the window closes. However, he stressed that Borussia Dortmund will prioritise careful recruitment over speed, insisting the club must make the “right transfers” rather than pursuing deals that generate immediate applause but create squad issues later in the season.
Senior players staying put
Ricken moved to clarify the status of several first-team regulars who have faced transfer speculation. He confirmed that defender Nico Schlotterbeck remains at the club, alongside attackers Serhou Guirassy, Felix Nmecha and Julian Ryerson. These players had been linked with moves away from Westphalia, but the sporting director dismissed suggestions of their departure.
Defensive reinforcements and emerging talents
The club has already bolstered its defensive options this summer with the arrivals of centre-backs Joane Gadou, Kauã Prates and Justin Lerma. Ricken indicated that these signings have strengthened the central defence significantly.
Additionally, he highlighted the progress of younger squad members such as Reggiani and Inácio, noting that their development has been so positive that they amount to “essentially new signings” in terms of their impact on the first team.
Expectations for last summer’s recruits
Ricken also turned attention to players signed in the previous transfer window, expressing confidence that they will show marked improvement this term. He specifically named Pascal Silva, Carney Chukwuemeka and Jobe Bellingham as individuals who struggled initially but are expected to “take the next step” as they adapt to the club’s demands.
While acknowledging frustration with the pace of recruitment, Ricken defended the deliberate approach. He cautioned against signing players who might satisfy short-term expectations but leave the club questioning “were those really the right transfers?” come November.
With pre-season underway, Dortmund supporters can expect targeted additions rather than wholesale changes as the club seeks to complete its squad build ahead of the new Bundesliga campaign.