At a glance:
- Kehl leading candidate for Tottenham
- Johan Lange set to stay
- German enjoyed huge success at Dortmund
Sebastian Kehl has been heavily linked with the sporting director role at Tottenham as they continue to rework their sporting structure.
Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival is expected to breathe new life into the club, but there is still a lot of work to be done to make them a force to be reckoned with.
Reports from Germany confirm Kehl is the leading candidate for Tottenham, although a deal isn’t imminent at the moment.
The former Borussia Dortmund captain enjoyed a fantastic playing career and took over as the club’s sporting director in 2022.
And since then, he has made a handful of notable signings, which could bode well for Tottenham.
Kehl will look to replicate Dortmund magic at Tottenham
Dortmund haven’t won the Bundesliga since the days of Jurgen Klopp but came close to doing so in 2023 before losing out to Bayern Munich on the last day of the season.
They had a fantastic team back then and a lot of credit should go to Kehl, who replaced Michael Zorc as sporting director ahead of that season.
A lot of players came into consideration, but here are times the German hit it out of the park with his signings.
5. Ramy Bensabaini
Blessed with a wand of a left foot, Dortmund snapped him up on a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Algerian always has a goal or two in him and has also slotted in as a central defender. Dortmund have signed more talented players under Kehl, but in terms of value for money, they don’t get much better than a player like Bensabaini for free.
4. Julian Ryerson
One of Kehl’s biggest bargains at Dortmund, Ryerson was snapped up from Union Berlin for a meagre €5m fee. And it’s safe to say the Norwegian has become an indispensable asset for Dortmund, be it as a full-back or a wing-back.
One of the German’s smartest signings during his successful stint with Dortmund.
3. Felix Nmecha
The German international is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in world football currently and could play a pivotal role for Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Dortmund snapped him up for €30m from Wolfsburg two years ago and he has developed into such a well-rounded midfielder since.
Nmecha has keen admirers at Tottenham, but with their Premier League status hanging by a thread, a move doesn’t look likely at this stage.
2. Serhou Guirassy
After two fantastic seasons at VfB Stuttgart, Dortmund parted with €18m to sign Guirassy in 2024. And the towering striker wasted no time in proving his worth as he scored 21 Bundesliga goals during his first season at the club.
Guirassy has also been linked with a move to Tottenham, so Kehl’s potential arrival should surely be a factor to consider if they decide to press ahead with a transfer.
1. Nico Schlotterbeck
The young German made a name for himself at Freiburg and also spent a season on loan at Union Berlin before Dortmund – and Kehl – came calling.
Signed for a €25m transfer fee in 2022, Schlotterbeck has become a mainstay for Dortmund and Germany and is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the world.
A real bargain.
