Serhou Guirassy’s uncertain future: Should Dortmund offload their star striker?

Dortmund’s number 9 scored an impressive 34 goals in all competitions last year, with 21 in the Bundesliga and 13 in the Champions League, including a hat-trick against Barcelona. This outstanding performance earned him 21st place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, ahead of Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Declan Rice. However, this season, things have not been falling into place for the Guinean striker.

Since the beginning of the 25/26 season, Guirassy has scored only nine times, five in the Bundesliga, three in the Champions League, and one in Dortmund’s now-concluded DFB Pokal campaign. This time last year, he had only scored ten goals, but Dortmund were in worse form under Nuri Sahin with only 21 points after Matchday 13. As it stands, this season under Niko Kovac, Dortmund have 28 points after Matchday 13. In comparison, Guirassy scored 12 goals, including four against Union Berlin, in Dortmund’s final 11 games of the 24/25 Bundesliga season, which saw them finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League.

The Guinean’s play within the team has fallen short repeatedly, and his role as a target man rarely works to its intended purpose. This season in the Bundesliga, he has lost possession 10 times per match on average, 36% more than the Bundesliga’s top five strikers.

Supporters are growing frustrated with the 29-year-old appearing in the starting lineup. One Dortmund fan site said “It’s like Groundhog Day” and pondered “What dirt does Guirassy have on Kovac?”

Guirassy’s frustration at Dortmund

It’s clear that Guirassy is also frustrated. The striker refused to shake hands with BVB coach Niko Kovac after he was substituted in the 61st minute in Dortmund’s 2-1 win over Leverkusen. Kovac stated at a press conference that Guirassy apologised following the incident and added: “He knows that he didn’t react properly there. That is what matters to me”. He subsequently began their DFB Pokal fixture against die Werkself on the bench. According to Kovac, it had nothing to do with Guirassy’s behaviour four days before.

Guirassy’s contract with Borussia Dortmund expires in 2028, but there are release clauses that could allow him to depart much earlier if they are satisfied. Bild reported last month that Guirassy’s brother and agent, Karamba, had been offering him to clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Could Guirassy leave in the winter transfer window?

The release clause in Guirassy’s contract would allow him to depart Signal Iduna Park early for €50 million, although this applies only to a small number of top European clubs. Other clubs would have to fork out at least €80 million to secure the striker’s services. While the €50 million seemed a bargain at the end of the 24/25 season, given his current form, it’s difficult to imagine any club paying a sum that large for Guirassy now.

Dortmund’s current secondary striker, Fabio Silva, was also rumoured to be interested in departing the German club during the winter transfer window. Borussia Dortmund have since ruled out a move for the Portuguese striker, reportedly informing Silva’s agent that a transfer is “completely out of the question”.

The 23-year-old has been disappointed with his playing time thus far. He was handed his first start in Dortmund’s 1-0 DFB Pokal defeat to Leverkusen. He netted his first and only goal for Dortmund in their 4-2 Champions League victory over Copenhagen back in October, and provided the key assist for Karim Adeyemi’s winner against Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. It’s difficult to see Silva stepping into Guirassy’s place so soon. If the Guinean were to depart in the winter, it’s almost certain that Dortmund management would scramble to find another striker.

If Guirassy were to depart in January, it would leave Dortmund in a tough position, with few offensive players left in the squad. Perhaps it would allow for the club’s younger players, like Julien Duranville, to get a chance on the pitch. Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani would be Dortmund’s choice replacement, though a transfer in the winter is highly unlikely, especially with Bayern also reportedly interested in the forward.

How the transfer window unfolds for the Guinean remains to be seen. It is currently unlikely that he will be in Saudi Arabia in February, a departure in the summer seems more likely, though the large sum required for him still remains an obstacle.

Another summer rebuild for Borussia Dortmund may be on the cards.