sebastian kehl and Borussia Dortmund have agreed to an immediate split, and the club has already named Nils-Ole Book as the new sporting director who will start on Wednesday (ET). The move follows a joint decision by the club and Kehl to end his tenure now so both sides can prepare for change. The new appointment is effective immediately for Book at his current employer, SV Elversberg.
Sebastian Kehl: Departure and reaction
Borussia Dortmund and Sebastian Kehl will go their separate ways with immediate effect, the club leadership says the decision was mutual. Lars Ricken, Sport-Geschäftsführer at Borussia Dortmund, framed the timing as strategic: “In a conversation we reached the joint conviction that summer is the right time for changes. To allow both sides to prepare, we have mutually agreed on an immediate end to Sebastian’s activity, ” said Lars Ricken, Sport-Geschäftsführer, Borussia Dortmund. Kehl commented on his long connection to the club: “Borussia Dortmund has accompanied me for half my life, and I have an extreme connection to this great club. Nevertheless, we have now jointly developed the feeling that it is time to go new ways — both for BVB and for me, ” said Sebastian Kehl, former Sportdirektor, Borussia Dortmund.
Nils-Ole Book to start Wednesday (ET)
Nils-Ole Book, 40, will succeed Kehl and is set to begin work on Wednesday (ET). Book currently serves at SV Elversberg, where he rose from scout after ending his playing career in 2017 to hold roles as sporting director and later sportvorstand. SV Elversberg communicated the change “with immediate effect, ” and Book has reportedly signed a contract that runs until 2029. “With Ole Book we were able to bring our desired candidate for the position of sporting director to BVB, ” said Lars Ricken, Sport-Geschäftsführer, Borussia Dortmund. “I have been following his excellent work in Elversberg first as sporting director and later as sportvorstand for a long time and am absolutely convinced that Ole fits very well with us both professionally and personally. We have great confidence in Ole and his expertise when it comes to developing creative and brave ideas in the transfer market, ” Ricken added.
Immediate fallout and what comes next
The club highlighted Kehl’s contributions during his years at Dortmund, including prior roles leading the licensed players department and taking on the sporting director role in 2022. Kehl’s tenure included a DFB-Pokal triumph in 2021 while he led the license player division. Media and fan discussion has already turned to potential internal and external targets to shape the sporting department going forward; names and negotiations will be watched closely as the club executes the handover. The leadership team around Lars Ricken and other executives will be responsible for integrating Book quickly and defining the club’s transfer strategy under the new sporting director.
Looking ahead, Borussia Dortmund plans to move rapidly: Book will be on site starting Wednesday (ET) and the club will focus on transition planning and squad strategy during the coming weeks. The club has signaled it wants a swift handover so sporting and transfer work continues without interruption as it prepares for the next phase following the departure of sebastian kehl.
