transfer market
Transfer backlog cleared: BVB before signing Sabitzer
Is probably before a change from Bayern Munich to Borussia Dortmund: Marcel Sabitzer. photo
© Expa/Reinhard Eisenbauer/APA/dpa
Despite the lavish Bellingham income, BVB has so far been reluctant to make transfers. Now, after Ramy Bensebaini and Felix Nmecha, another professional is approaching – from the title competitor from Munich.
Borussia Dortmund’s long search for a key player seems to be over. Even if the name Marcel Sabitzer was still missing from the Bundesliga club’s passenger list for the eleven-day trip to the USA on Monday, but the Austrian’s move from FC Bayern to the German runners-up is considered perfect.
A few hours before his supposedly new teammates boarded the plane to San Diego in Düsseldorf, the 29-year-old made his way to the Revierstadt to complete the medical check-up. “I’m not saying anything about that now,” Sabitzer answered Sky when asked what feelings he had when he left Munich.
With the signing of the midfielder, BVB would end the weeks-long search for another replacement for Jude Bellingham, who had moved to Real Madrid. In addition to the approximately 30 million euro former Wolfsburg resident Felix Nmecha, Sabitzer is to direct the Dortmund control center. The transfer fee for the veteran, who was last loaned to Manchester United and still has a contract with the record champions until 2025, is reported to be 15 million euros plus bonus payments. Since Sabitzer no longer plays a major role in coach Thomas Tuchel’s plans, the Bayern bosses have apparently agreed to the transfer and will probably let another player move to the title rival a year after Niklas Süle.
Sabitzer is to join in the USA
In order to speed up the integration, Sabitzer is to travel to the USA as soon as possible. That would be in the spirit of BVB trainer Edin Terzic, who, given the long flight times, different time zones and various PR appointments of his professionals, will be under a lot of pressure in the coming days. Finally, the USA trip with tests against the US second division side San Diego Loyal (July 28/4:30 a.m. CEST), Manchester City (July 31/3:00 a.m. CEST in Las Vegas) and Chelsea FC (August 3/2:30 a.m. CEST in Chicago) replaces the preparatory training camp in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, which has been mandatory for years.
Complaints about the waiver did not come from the football teacher’s lips. “We want to work on team tactics and will use the time intensively and conscientiously. It’s good that we’re together around the clock from morning to night,” said Terzic.
The trip brings in around five million euros for the Revierclub and should help to better market the Bundesliga abroad. “We have to do something for internationalization. We can’t always just say that the Bundesliga is lagging behind. You can’t complain about that without doing something about it,” said Dortmund’s Marketing Manager Carsten Cramer of the German Press Agency, referring to the – compared to the domestic league – many English clubs dealing with this topic more professionally. “Ten clubs from the Premier League are going abroad in the summer. We also have to go to markets where people are interested in the Bundesliga.”
Balance between training and marketing
The preparation will not suffer from these commercial interests, so Cramer: “I think we have combined it very well. The first part in San Diego is like a training camp. In Manchester United and Chelsea FC we also have two really good opponents over the course of the trip, so that we can have a corresponding effect in the USA. For our team, these are also two real endurance tests.”
If the medical check at Sabitzer goes without negative results, Sebastian Kehl can go into the coming days a little more relaxed after the recent criticism of the meager purchases so far. The coup with the Austrian and the extension of the contract with national player Emre Can until 2026 relieve the sports director’s to-do list. What is still pending is the desired agreement with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel on a continuation of the collaboration, which previously lasted until 2026, which could bring the 25-year-old significantly more income. In addition, if Thomas Meunier were to leave, Kehl would have to intensify the search for a new right-back.