Brandt to Leave Dortmund as Free Agent in 2026

Julian Brandt, Borussia Dortmund's longtime midfielder, will depart the club as a free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season after seven years with the team. The 29-year-old German international's contract expires in June 2026, and both parties agreed not to extend it following recent discussions.

Dortmund's sporting director, Lars Ricken, confirmed the decision after the team's 2-1 Bundesliga victory over FC Koln on Saturday. "There were open talks, and everyone agreed that the expiring contract wouldn't be extended," Ricken told Sky Germany in a post-match interview. He expressed gratitude for Brandt's contributions, noting the player's 298 appearances, during which he scored 56 goals and provided 68 assists. "He played a few hundred games for Borussia Dortmund. I think we can only be grateful to him for playing with us for seven years," Ricken said. "We ultimately reached an agreement, and I think we're parting with a great deal of respect. But for both of us, it's another opportunity."

Brandt joined Dortmund from Bayer Leverkusen in 2019 and quickly became a key creative force in the midfield. His versatility allowed him to operate as an attacking midfielder, on the wings...