Borussia Dortmund have extended the contract of Sebastian Kehl, the club’s sporting director, until 2027.
Kehl, 44, has been in the role since 2022, but was out of contract in the summer of 2025. The uncertainty around his future had become an increasing distraction for the club, with negotiations lasting several weeks.
It’s been a complicated political period for Dortmund. Long-term CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke will leave in the summer of 2025. In May 2024, Lars Ricken, formerly head of the club’s academy, inherited part of Watzke’s responsibilities, within a newly-created sporting managing director role.
At the time, Kehl was a candidate for that job, too, and his future has been in doubt ever since. The return of former chief scout Sven Mislintat — with whom Kehl has a strained relationship — as technical director, further complicated his role.
In an interview with Sky Deutschland in 2024, he admitted to being a “little disappointed” at not receiving the promotion, but insisted that he was “happy” for Ricken and that the two “enjoyed a long-term, trusting relationship”.
Publicly, the club have maintained that an extension for Kehl — who captained Borussia Dortmund as a player and made over 350 appearances – was a priority. Ricken stressed that again at the club’s November AGM.
Nevertheless, without a formal agreement in place, speculation has continued around his future, and at a time when — on the field — Dortmund are enduring an awkward season under new coach Nuri Sahin, who was appointed in the summer.
After 15 games and before the Bundesliga’s restart, Sahin’s side sit a disappointing sixth, 11 points behind leaders Bayern Munich and outside the Champions League qualification places.
It meant that transition on the pitch was being mirrored at the executive level above Sahin. The hope at Dortmund will be that, with Kehl now under contract for a further three years and the club’s recruiting direction assured, everything starts to feel more permanent.
“I am extremely committed to Borussia Dortmund and am delighted to be able to continue working for this great club,” said Kehl upon the confirmation of his contract extension.
“I feel the trust our management has in me as sporting director and I would like to thank Lars in particular for the good and constructive discussions over the past few weeks.”
Ricken added: “Sebastian and I have known and trusted each other for many years. In recent weeks we have had intensive discussions about content, structures and economic issues and have now brought these to a positive conclusion.
“Our primary goal is clear: We want to be continuously represented in the Champions League in the coming years and play the necessary role in the Bundesliga. In order to achieve these goals, we will continue to join forces. As sporting director, Sebastian has my full support on this path.”
(Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
