Borussia Dortmund outlines men's pre‑season plan and women's bid for 2. Bundesliga promotion

After an eight‑week summer break, Borussia Dortmund's men's squad under coach Niko Kovač began pre‑season training. The roster combines returning World Cup players with non‑World Cup players such as Serhou Guirassy, Jobe Bellingham and Fabio Silva, while some internationals remain on holiday. Loan returns include Julien Duranville and Cole Campbell, and transfer targets feature Karim Adeyemi (Barcelona medical) and Yan Couto (potential Como loan). Training will take place at the Brackel facility with no overseas camp, and the team has scheduled friendlies against RW Oberhausen (18 July), Fortuna Düsseldorf (25 July), Cerezo Osaka (29 July), FC Tokyo (1 August), Arsenal (9 August) and the season‑opening match on 15 August.

The Borussia Dortmund women's side is targeting direct promotion to the 2. Frauen‑Bundesliga. A DFB reform will create a new 3. Liga Frauen from 2027/28, with qualification beginning in the 2026/27 season. Only the regional league champion will earn promotion, and the BVB women missed out in 2025/26 by two points. The club aims to win the Regionalliga West and succeed in the promotion playoff, bolstered by high‑profile signings such as Alexandra Popp and goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.