Soumaila Coulibaly is moving to Racing Strasbourg, closing the chapter on his time at BVB. It is still unclear which European competition he will play in.
Soumaila Coulibaly returned once more for the Club World Cup, but now he is leaving Borussia Dortmund for good. The 21-year-old center back is moving to Racing Strasbourg. BVB can look forward to a transfer fee of around 7.5 million euros plus bonuses.
“Soumi is an excellent young man who has unfortunately had to contend with injuries time and again in the past. In Strasbourg, he can now sign a long-term contract and return to his home country. We wish him all the best and, above all, continued good health,” said BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl in a club statement.
Coulibaly had been loaned out twice recently. However, he was repeatedly hampered by injuries, both in 2023/24 at Belgian club Royal Antwerp FC and last season at Stade Brest in his native France. He made eight appearances in the Champions League for Brest, but only seven in the league. Adductor problems forced him to sit out from March onwards.
The 1.90-meter giant joined BVB in 2021 from Paris Saint-Germain. After gaining initial experience in the third division team, he made his debut in the Champions League in November 2022 and in the Bundesliga five months later, but did not make any further appearances.
Only two professional appearances for BVB
He also did not play a single minute in the Club World Cup, before which Borussia Dortmund had prematurely terminated Coulibaly’s loan contract with Brest, which was originally valid until June 30, in order to have him available in the USA. He was ready to come on as a substitute in the round of 16 against CF Monterrey (2-1), but referee Facundo Tello (Argentina) blew the final whistle. Coulibaly thus leaves BVB with only two professional appearances in four years.
Strasbourg, which belongs to the same investor consortium as Chelsea FC, finished the past Ligue 1 season in seventh place and thus qualified for the Conference League. However, if Olympique Lyon’s relegation is confirmed, the club from Alsace would move up to the Europa League.
