Dortmund Axe Kehl: We Rank the Hits and Misses from His Transfer Tenure

Picture this: you're mid-pint, scrolling your phone, and Borussia Dortmund drop a bombshell. Sebastien Kehl, their sporting director and former captain, has been shown the door after three-and-a-half years. He stepped in during the summer of 2022, right as Erling Haaland was scarpering to Manchester City. Plenty of stars came and went under his watch, but did the signings stack up? As reported by Football365 via OneFootball, we've ranked the top 10 – from flops to future gems – with a cheeky pub chat vibe.

Kehl's era wasn't short of drama. Dortmund chased silverware, flirted with the title, and kept the Signal Iduna Park rocking. But transfers? A mixed bag of bargains, punt sales, and eyebrow-raisers. Let's countdown the standout deals, judging them on goals, resale vibes, and sheer entertainment value.

The Top 10 Signings: From Bellingham Bro to Defensive Rock

10. Jobe Bellingham (€30.5m from Sunderland)

Eyebrows shot up higher than a Reus free-kick when Dortmund splashed out on Jude's little bro. The lad took time to settle in the Bundesliga's meat grinder, but he's hitting stride now. Nepotism? Maybe. Smart long-term punt? Definitely.

9. Karim Adeyemi (€30m from RB Salzburg)

Dortmund pipped the queue for this speed demon in 2022. 35 goals in 143 games ain't shabby, even if he's been shunted wide more than up top. Blistering pace that leaves full-backs for dead – pure Yellow Wall catnip.

8. Niclas Füllkrug (€17.25m from Werder Bremen)

The burly frontman bagged 15 goals in 43 outings before West Ham turned him into a Premier League punchline. Dortmund flipped him for a tidy €10m profit in a year. Mixed on-pitch, but financially? Chef's kiss.

7. Waldemar Anton (€22.5m from Stuttgart)

This 29-year-old German international rocked up in 2024, fresh off his debut cap. Bundesliga.com calls him a 'defensive rock' – solid as they come. Premier League scouts are sniffing already; Dortmund might cash in soon.

6. Ramy Bensebaini (Free from Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Snapped up on a free with four years' top-flight nous? Bargain of the century. Repurposed from left-back to centre-half, he's been a steal without costing a penny.

5. Daniel Svensson (€6.5m from Nordsjælland)

Loan-to-buy in February 2025, and the Swedish left-back was starting regularly by spring. Now 60 caps under his belt – understated gem who's slotted right in.

4. Felix Nmecha (€30m from Wolfsburg)

Plucked from Wolves' neighbours in 2023, the midfielder's now a key man. Fresh contract extension proves it: Dortmund's midfield engine room sorted.

3. Julian Ryerson (€5m from Union Berlin)

January 2023 steal – Bundesliga veteran for peanuts. Over 100 appearances, including a bonkers four assists in one game vs Mainz last month. Right-back reliability personified.

The Elite Tier: Goals, Value, and Transfer Gold

2. Serhou Guirassy (€18m from Stuttgart)

21 goals from 30 Bundesliga starts in his debut 2024 campaign? That's striker heaven. Just turned 30, so resale might be meh, but bang-for-buck? Immense.

1. Nico Schlotterbeck (€20m from Freiburg)

Top spot goes to this centre-back colossus from 2022. 150+ appearances, German international, and entering his contract's final year. Dortmund value him at €50m+ now – 2026's hottest defender ticket.

Kehl's legacy? Not defined by one trophy cabinet, but by smart(ish) business amid Dortmund's youth conveyor belt. They turned profits on some (Füllkrug, anyone?), built a spine, and eyed futures like Schlotterbeck and Bellingham Jr. As the club hunts a replacement, expect more transfer circus. Prost to Kehl – you kept us entertained, mate.