Borussia Dortmund kicked off the new Bundesliga season in a typically stupid fashion, giving up a 3-1 lead late on against St. Pauli to draw 3-3. So now seems like the perfect moment to record some predictions for BVB’s 2025/26 season. Surely the Fear the Wall writers will be feeling very normal after the weekend’s slip-up? Let’s find out.
Best Player
Paul: Nico Schlotterbeck
I think Schlotterbeck was starting to take that next step last season, and if he can stay healthy this season, I think he will continue
the process and become one of the best center-backs in the world.
Nick: Gregor Kobel
With the backline currently very injured and the midfield looking incredibly porous, Kobel is going to have to find another level to keep Dortmund in many matches this season, and I think he can achieve that level.
Sean: Serhou Guirassy
Guirassy scored 21 goals last season, and that was on a team that really struggled for half of the season. He’s already got one in each game. I think he can seriously challenge Harry Kane for the Torjägerkanone.
Timm: Carney Chukwuemeka
If he can stay healthy and actually play a full 90 minutes, he could very well make a case for being one of the best in Europe at his position. Carney has all the technical ability in the world; his body has just let him down so far.
Top Goalscorer
Paul: Serhou Guirassy
This one seems pretty obvious. I could have gone for someone a little left of field, like Karim Adeyemi, but I just don’t think anyone else is going to get close to Guirassy.
Nick: Serhou Guirassy
Guirassy has already scored two goals in his first two appearances for Dortmund. The only way he isn’t the top goalscorer is if he gets a lucrative transfer, suffers a lengthy injury, or something goes very, very wrong.
Sean: Serhou Guirassy
See my answer above.
Timm: Serhou Guirassy
If he starts to convert his penalties as well, it won’t be close.
Breakout Star
Paul: Jobe Bellingham
I think this one is pushing the limits of a “breakout”, having had a big season in the Championship and moved to Dortmund for a decent chunk of money, but I think Jobe can become a regular in BVB’s midfield and establish himself as one of the best young midfielders in Germany.
Nick: Cole Campbell
It is written in recent BVB lore that there must always be an American in the first team who will do well, blossom the next season, and then make a move to a higher club on a big transfer wage. First, it was Christian Pulisic, then it was Gio Reyna, and I believe now it will be Campbell. Dortmund eventually blocked a multi-million-Euro move to Stuttgart due to the minimal depth at the winger position after the Duranville injury and the Gittens departure, despite Kovač backing the move over concerns about the lack of available minutes. I’m hoping this means he will actually get playing time this season – more than the 75 minutes from last – and I’m double hoping he makes an impact in those hypothetical minutes.
Sean: Maximilian Beier (Assuming we don’t sell him to Brentford)
It’s a bit weird to say that he’ll be a breakout player because he had a good season by any standard last year, but I guess I mean that I think he’ll take the “next step” and become an indispensable part of the starting XI. He looked really good and was averaging seemingly a goal or an assist every game under Kovac in the second half, and I think in his first full season he could really blossom. Or, we sell him for €70 million.
Timm: Aaron Anselmino
Dare I say, Dortmund kind of needs either Anselmino and or Filippo Mane to become reliable options this season. With all the injuries that have piled up at the CB position (and could continue to pile up), I believe Anselmino will undoubtedly get his opportunities. So let’s wait and see what he can bring to the team.
Bundesliga
Paul: Runners-Up
I’m concerned that BVB have stood still this summer, but what works in their advantage is that many of their competitors appear to have taken a step backward. The opening game of the season shows that the worst Borussia Dortmund are still lurking, but I think a full preseason under Kovač will see this team take a step forward, for once.
Nick: Runners-Up
I made this point on my Substack, but my confidence in a top-four finish is based less on what BVB added (pre-Chuk and Anselmino moves) and more on what the other teams have lost. Leverkusen are basically rebuilding after losing pretty much everyone, Leipzig lost Sesko, and Frankfurt have to replace Etikete. Someone has to finish second to Bayern, so why not us?
Sean: Runners-Up
It seems that the top of the Bundesliga is just going to be very weak this year, so BVB seem likely to finish second just by default. If there’s one team that I think could challenge BVB for 2nd, it’s Frankfurt. They looked really strong in their debut. I also think that Leverkusen did a pretty decent job replacing Wirtz, Frimpong, Tah, and (presumably) Hincapié, but I don’t really rate Erik Ten Hag, and some of their moves might take some time to gel.
Timm: 5th
Bayern will finish the league with their eyes closed. Now, as for the rest, a lot can happen. Due to their fluctuating form in the Hinrunde in recent years, I can no longer back BVB as confidently as I used to. There seems to be this newly developed mentality in and around the club, along the lines of “oh, we’ll just get ’em in the second half of the season.” That worries me. Hoffenheim will be good this campaign (not something I necessarily needed in my life, but I’m getting it), Leverkusen still have a strong squad, and Frankfurt look supremely competent in everything they do. I’m not sure if Dortmund can leave that bunch behind them.
Your Thoughts?
Do you agree with our predictions? What are your expectations for Borussia Dortmund’s 2025/26 season? Let us know in the comments.
