By Ben McFadyean.
With Borussia Dortmund in the January transfer window, it was a lot like waiting for a bus: nothing for ages, and then all three, plus a manager, came along at once.
Sitting in eleventh place with a record of 34 conceded goals, which puts the side in the bottom third in terms of goals conceded, the need for reinforcements in the January transfer window was obvious. Critically however a budget of just €15m was made available by the decision makers.
Instead of the promised transfers, rumours of interest in one of the side’s best surfaced, and frustration started to build among the faithful that the club are starting to really lose momentum in the hunt for a Champions League place.
Gregor Kobel’s consistent performances over the last two seasons have not gone unnoticed, and there are rumours circulating about the Swiss keeper’s unsettled state.
According to Germany’s leading sports magazine, Kicker, the English club with the deepest pockets, Chelsea, is hunting for a new goalkeeper despite having a goalkeeper line-up of three senior internationals and a U21 international.
What may surprise, for a club that also has Kepa, who signed for the West London club for a world record £71m from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 and is out on loan at AFC Bournemouth, is that the 2021 Champions League winners are reported to be willing to part with a reported fee of up to “£70m” for the former VfB Stuttgart player.
With interest from Manchester United also being reported by The Independent, BVB’s pain of losing their top performer could still be in the form of a substantial payday for the 1.96m player they paid just £12m to VfB for in 2021.
With new manager Nico Kovac in place since Sunday and only hours to go before the transfer window closes, Managing Director Lars Ricken and head of professional football Sebastian Kehl have shown their cards.
A goalkeeper for the future Diant Ramaj
Twenty-one-year-old Diant Ramaj signed from Ajax for a fee reported by Ruhr Nachrichten to be €5m on a 4.5-year deal.
The 1.88m shot-stopper has made 23 appearances in the Eredivisie for the Dutch giants since moving up from the Jong Ajax development squad in 23/24.
Ramaj, who also qualifies for Kosovo through parentage, is a German U20 international.
The 1.86m keeper played for the Stuttgarter Kickers academy before being signed by Oliver Glasner for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Controversially, the Stuttgart-born player was recommended by BVB’s current head of scouting, Sven Mislintat, while at the Amsterdam-based club last season and now rejoined Mislintat at Dortmund.
The former Arsenal head of scouting was dismissed from his position at the club due to a conflict of interest, reported at the time to relate to having a personal financial interest in the transfers.
In the past season, Diant Ramaj struggled to gain the confidence of manager Maurice Steijn. However, following the coach’s departure to Feyenoord, the young keeper, whose brother Dijon played for fourth-tier VfR Aalen, has made 28 appearances, including an impressive showing in the Conference League against Bodø/Glimt, and has kept four clean sheets.
In terms of his profile, Ramaj fits the profile of a modern goalkeeper. He also excels in shot-stopping and his ability to play with his feet.
He has a strong physical presence, is known for a sound command of the area, is composed on the ball, and is accurate in passing. The keeper is highly rated for his cross-stopping ability and defensive actions outside the box.
Speaking to WFi, sporting director of Stuttgarter Kickers Academy Nobert Stippel welcomed the transfer and lent his support: “We have always believed Diant was cut out for something big. The competition is, of course, fierce, but he has the commitment to make. It’s impressive to see his development.”
On a season-long loan, FC Copenhagen is the new BVB keeper’s first destination while further discussions surrounding the Swiss keeper’s future occur.
Only the second Swede in the club’s history could be key in defence.
The left-back position has been a concern for BVB, with the club unable or unwilling to meet the reported £40m fee Chelsea wanted to make Ian Maatsen’s loan permanent in the summer.
Maatsen, who has seemed unsettled following his transfer to Aston Villa, is one of the best players in the position the club has seen for some time. However, little other than rumours surfaced about the Dutchman’s return.
With Algerian International Ramy Bensebaini unable to assert himself in the position, Nuri Sahin promoted eighteen-year-old Almugera Kabar from the U23s, but that, too, has not yet proven to be a long-term solution.
The answer may have come from Sweden international Daniel Svensson, for a fee confirmed by Transfermarkt to be £1.8m.
The professional career of the twenty-two-year-old, who arrives on loan with an option to buy from top-tier side Nordsjaelland, started at 18 with Swedish club IF Brommapojkarna.
The Stockholm-born player became one of Nordsjaelland’s most reliable players. He appeared in 31 of the club’s 32 league games and added two goals and eight assists in 23/24.
Svensson, who debuted for the national team against Estonia in October, is recognized as a player for his versatility and decision-making on the pitch.
He’s logged minutes in the midfield and defence, showing the ability to transition seamlessly between roles.
Only the second Swedish player, after Alex Isak, to play for Die Schwarz-Gelben, the 1.83m tall defensive all-rounder has shown himself to be able to effectively play left back, centre back, and left midfielder and has also taken on roles as a defensive midfielder.
Has Sebastian Kehl identified another English winner for Borussia?
BVB has added another loan. Austrian-born Carney Chukwuemeka represents England at U20 level. Since joining Chelsea in 2023 from the Aston Villa academy, he has made twenty-three appearances in the Premier League.
A right-footed player who has represented the Three Lions at all levels, from U15 to U21, he can also play on the wing but looks most at home in the centre of midfield.
According to Sky, Chukwuemeka, who has a loan fee of £2.4m, is an outstanding ball carrier in the mould of Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey. He has outstanding vision and the passing ability to match.
For a player of his height, 1.85m, the Chelsea loanee is impressively dynamic and fast-paced, allowing him to impose himself on opposing midfielders.
In terms of defensive play, he has good aerial skills, and the ability to intercept passes well, but he may need to improve his commitment to hold down a place in the starting line-up.
The young English player has showcased a strong ability to time his runs into the box and drive from deep to create chances in the final third. He can be the counter-pressing player who has excelled at the Westfalenstadion.
Whilst many welcomed the transfer to Aston ViIlla of Donyell Malen following a disappointing era at the Westfalenstadion, missing out on his designated replacement, and the club’s number one target Olympique Lyon’s Rayan Cherki leaves the side light in the offensive midfield and will irk the senior management surrounding managing director Lars Ricken.
Meanwhile, performances on the pitch have improved under interim coach Mike Tullberg, the win in the final Champions League game at home to Shakhtar Donetsk qualified the side for a two-legged last-16 playoff against Sporting Lisbon which takes place on the 11th and 19th of February, followed by an away win, only the second of the season, on Saturday at Heidenheim.
It now remains to be seen whether Niko Kovac, who has an impressive pedigree in terms of titles including the double with Bayern in 2019, can consistently produce results out of a squad that has underperformed and looked lacking in leadership for much of 24/25.
The move for the Berlin-born coach has not however been universally popular. Only 23% in a poll in Reviersport support the signing.
Sceptics among the fans on Saturday will be closely watching Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß, who many among the BVB faithful would love to see next in the Dortmund hot seat.
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