French defender Soumaïla Coulibaly is expected to rejoin Borussia Dortmund as the club prepares for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. According to Ruhr Nachrichten, the 21-year-old, who has been on loan for the past two seasons with Royal Antwerp and Stade Brest, is set to return to his parent club by the end of June.
Due to the scheduling of the international tournament, Dortmund—along with fellow German side Bayern Munich—must accelerate the return of some loaned players to complete their rosters. Though the Westphalians briefly considered re-signing Mats Hummels for a short-term spell, that plan has been shelved.
Dortmund’s defensive puzzle
BVB faces a shortage in central defense following the long-term injury to Nico Schlotterbeck, who will not be fit in time to participate in the summer competition. Coulibaly is being looked at as a potential solution, though he is also recovering from an adductor issue. Before rejoining the team fully, he will undergo a medical evaluation in Dortmund.
The club signed Coulibaly in 2021 after he turned down offers from major European teams including Paris Saint-Germain—where he developed as a youth player—along with Olympique Marseille and Bayern Munich. Despite flashes of promise, his journey with Dortmund’s first team has been anything but smooth.
Setback in Stuttgart and future uncertain
Coulibaly featured regularly for the club’s second team but struggled during his one Bundesliga appearance for the senior squad. That opportunity came in April 2023, when he was brought on at halftime during a match against VfB Stuttgart. A series of defensive lapses, including a misjudged clearance in stoppage time, allowed the ten-man opposition to complete a dramatic 3-3 comeback.
Since that matchday 28 encounter, he has not returned to action for the senior team. Dortmund has reportedly been open to parting ways with him permanently, but negotiations for a full transfer—particularly regarding clauses for mandatory purchase—have repeatedly broken down. Nonetheless, Coulibaly’s recent performances while on loan have boosted his transfer valuation to an all-time high of €9 million.
