Fortuna Düsseldorf faces staff lawsuits after relegation

Following Fortuna Düsseldorf’s drop to the 3. Liga, the club implemented a sweeping cost‑cutting programme that eliminated more than half of the office workforce and also saw numerous positions removed from the youth academy and the first‑team environment. Sixteen former employees have filed a total of 17 legal actions, most of them ordinary unfair‑dismissal claims, while one case challenges a contractual clause that automatically terminates employment if the club is no longer in the top two divisions.

At the same time, Fortuna announced the signing of Dutch right‑back Steven van der Sloot. The 23‑year‑old, who helped ADO Den Haag achieve promotion to the Eredivisie, signed a contract that includes a release clause estimated at €500‑600 k. Van der Sloot has expressed a desire to leave the third tier, and several Dutch top‑flight clubs have already shown interest, though no concrete offer has materialised.