Borussia Dortmund 202526 Season Preview: Deep Squad, Tactical Fluidity, and Renewed Balance
Dortmund enters the 202526 Bundesliga campaign with a reshaped core and improved balance. Edin Terzi? maintains his progressive tactical vision, steering the squad toward a more compact and flexible shape
Key Players & Tactical Spine
Gregor Kobel continues as the ever-reliable figure in goal, completing 32 appearances and playing 2,880 minutes, offering elite shot-stopping and command in high-stakes fixtures, Serhou Guirassy, a new attacking focal point, contributed 29 appearances and over 2,600 minutes, providing verticality and penalty-box presence, Pascal Groß (33), brought in for leadership and tempo control, made 28 appearances and offers hybrid flexibility across midfield and fullback zones, Julian Brandt and Emre Can both featured heavily (28 and 23 starts respectively), serving as dual-purpose midfielders capable of transitioning defense into attack. The defensive line sees Julian Ryerson, Ramy Bensebaini, and Nico Schlotterbeck anchor a mobile backline, while Waldemar Anton, with 1,984 minutes, brings added aerial strength and composure.
Notable Additions & Youth Integration
Patrick Drewes (Karlsruher SC) arrives as experienced backup in goal, offering cover for Kobel, Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) has joined, poised to develop in central midfield, Yan Couto (Manchester City) brings attacking thrust from the right, playing 1,776 minutes across 21 appearances, Daniel Svensson (Nordsjælland) appears as both substitute and starting option (16 matches), capable on the left flank, Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), with 17 starts and 1,592 minutes, injects forward depth with versatility across attacking lines.
No major departures noted
Substitute Contributions
Felix Nmecha and Karim Adeyemi (combined 36 apps, 2,953 minutes) provide creativity and forward runs, Giovanni Reyna, though limited to 342 minutes, remains a game-changing option off the bench, Defensive flexibility is bolstered by Niklas Süle, Daniel Svensson, and Yan Couto, all with substantial rotational minutes.
Dortmund possesses a deeper, tactically mature squad in 202526. With no major exits, additions like Groß, Guirassy, and Couto enhance positional coverage and dynamism. The bench is versatile and experienced, ideal for navigating Bundesliga intensity and Champions League demands. While they may lack a single world-beating star post-Bellingham era, Dortmunds strength now lies in structure, rotation depth, and adaptability.
