Dortmund Replaces Kehl with Nils-Ole Book

Borussia Dortmund announced on Sunday that Sebastian Kehl has stepped down as the club's sporting director after nearly four years in the role, marking a significant shift in the team's leadership ahead of the summer transfer window.

The departure, effective immediately by mutual agreement, comes as Dortmund prepares for a trophyless season, with the club finishing second in the Bundesliga, nine points behind leader Bayern Munich. Kehl, a former Dortmund captain who played for the club from 2002 to 2015 and helped secure three Bundesliga titles, took over the position in the summer of 2022 following a stint in player management. During his tenure, Dortmund reached the 2023-24 Champions League final, losing to Real Madrid, and nearly clinched the 2022-23 Bundesliga title before a late collapse.

Club officials cited the timing as ideal for change. "The summer is the right time for a change," said Lars Ricken, Dortmund's CEO for sport and Kehl's former teammate. "To allow both sides to prepare, we mutually agreed to an immediate termination of Sebastian's contract." Ricken praised Kehl's contributions, noting their shared history, including the 2002 German championship. Kehl...