At Signal Iduna Park, the alarms are not yet blaring, but nobody is sleeping either.
Borussia Dortmund’s hierarchy has seen enough transfer sagas to know when trouble is brewing, and the heart of their defence is beginning to look like the next fault line. With uncertainty swirling around Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle expected to move on in the summer, BVB are already working on the next generation of their back line.
High on that list: Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal.
Dortmund move early for Rennes prodigy
The 19-year-old Rennes defender has shot up Dortmund’s agenda, identified by sporting director Ole Book as a priority piece in what is shaping into a defensive rebuild. This is not a casual enquiry. This is planning for a “new era at the back,” as the club braces for potential departures and a reshaped identity.
Ait Boudlal’s profile explains the urgency. Under contract in France until 2028, he is widely regarded as one of the standout young centre-backs in Ligue 1. His reputation has grown even further after being part of Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, a title sealed in unusual fashion following a legal ruling after the tournament. He barely featured on the pitch – just one brief senior appearance so far – but the exposure and the medal have accelerated his rise.
European heavyweights have taken note. Dortmund want to be in front of that queue before his valuation explodes.
Schlotterbeck saga forces BVB’s hand
The catalyst for all this movement is clear: Schlotterbeck’s future.
The German international has become a fixture in the Dortmund XI, a central pillar in their defensive structure. Yet protracted contract talks have dragged on without resolution, turning a routine negotiation into a running storyline. Sections of the fanbase have grown increasingly irritated by the drawn-out nature of the situation and the public debate around his long-term commitment.
Inside the club, the message is pragmatic. They would like to keep a defender of his calibre. But they cannot afford to be caught unprepared. If Schlotterbeck decides to pursue a new challenge away from Dortmund, the pressure on the recruitment department will spike instantly. A top-level replacement would not be a luxury; it would be non-negotiable.
That is where Ait Boudlal fits in: a long-term project with high upside, potentially stepping into a role that could soon be vacant.
Süle exit would deepen the void
The looming issue is not just Schlotterbeck. Süle is widely expected to leave in the summer window, a move that would strip the squad of experience and sheer physical presence. For a club with ambitions at home and in Europe, losing both Süle and possibly Schlotterbeck in quick succession would be more than a headache. It would be a structural problem.
Book knows it. One signing will not be enough if both scenarios unfold.
So while Ait Boudlal is the name gaining the most traction right now, he is only one piece on a broader defensive board. Dortmund scouts have been tracking several options across Europe, with Marcos Senesi and Joane Gadou among the names repeatedly linked in recent months. The net is wide, the brief is clear: ensure that, whatever happens with the current starters, next season’s centre-back unit is fully stocked.
A wider rebuild: back to real wingers
This is not just a story about centre-backs. Dortmund’s summer plans stretch further up the pitch.
There is a growing desire inside the club to return to a more classic wide attacking structure – proper wingers, hugging the touchline, stretching games and giving the attack a sharper edge. The current squad, in the eyes of the decision-makers, does not quite have the right profiles to make that system sing.
That has led them to another rising talent: Diego Moreira of Strasbourg. The young wide man, tied down until 2029, is believed to be open to the next step in his career. His blend of dynamism and traditional wing play fits neatly into the blueprint BVB are sketching for their future.
Dortmund have been here before: retooling on the fly, replacing pillars while trying to stay competitive at the highest level. This time, the stakes sit squarely in the spine of the team. If Süle walks and Schlotterbeck follows, the success of this rebuild – and the speed with which players like Ait Boudlal can grow into the shirt – may well define how far BVB can push in the coming seasons.
