Official confirmation has arrived regarding the departure of defender Soumaïla Coulibaly from Borussia Dortmund. The young centre-back has completed a permanent move to French Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg, signing a contract that commits him to the Alsatian side until June 2029.
The transfer fee for the 21-year-old is reported to be a base figure of €7.5 million. This figure could potentially rise by an additional €1 million should certain performance-related bonuses be achieved in the future. For Dortmund, this represents a notable financial return on a player they originally acquired on a free transfer from PSG in 2021.
Coulibaly`s tenure in Germany proved challenging. Despite arriving with considerable potential, his progress was significantly hampered by persistent injury issues, including a torn cruciate ligament suffered early in his time at the club. These setbacks severely limited his opportunities to integrate into the first team, ultimately resulting in just two competitive appearances for the senior Dortmund side.
In an effort to provide the defender with crucial development and game time, Dortmund facilitated loan spells away from the Signal Iduna Park. He spent time with Royal Antwerpen in Belgium during the 2023/24 season and had commenced a temporary switch to Stade Brest in France. Interestingly, he returned to Dortmund a month earlier than anticipated from his Brest loan, a move that, perhaps optimistically, was linked to potential involvement in the Club World Cup setup.
However, upon his return, competitive minutes remained elusive. Coulibaly found himself consistently on the bench, a clear indication that securing a regular place in Edin Terzić`s squad was an increasingly distant prospect. This lack of pathway inevitably paved the way for discussions surrounding a permanent transfer.
RC Strasbourg, the player`s new club, operates under the ownership umbrella of BlueCo, the investment group that also controls Chelsea FC. This connection often facilitates player movement and strategic recruitment across the network, a potential factor in Strasbourg`s ability to secure Coulibaly on a long-term deal.
Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl commented on the transfer, acknowledging Coulibaly as an “outstanding youngster” whose development had unfortunately been impacted by injuries. He expressed wishes for the player`s future success and, significantly, “continued good health” as he returns to his home country to begin this new chapter. It`s a standard club statement, of course, but one that underscores the primary obstacles the player faced during his time in black and yellow.
Ultimately, Soumaïla Coulibaly`s move to Strasbourg marks the end of an injury-plagued, opportunity-scarce spell at Borussia Dortmund. It provides the promising defender with a necessary fresh start, a long-term contract, and the chance to finally demonstrate his talent and, critically, maintain fitness within the familiar surroundings of French football.
