In the summer, Borussia Dortmund loaned Sébastien Haller to Spain. The striker is one of the top earners at BVB and should be the focus of a sale at CD Leganés. But the plan failed badly.
The career drama surrounding Sébastien Haller (30) is suddenly a topic of concern again in Dortmund. Borussia’s record transfer has reached a new low. Haller has already been sidelined by the Spanish loan club CD Leganés after just two and a half months. In addition, his last oasis of well-being is disappearing: the Ivory Coast national team.
Flashback: In 2022, BVB replaced Haller from Ajax Amsterdam for 31 million euros and gave him a top salary of around ten million euros per season. On July 30, 2022, the shock diagnosis: testicular cancer.
After his recovery, he almost shot Dortmund to the championship title with nine goals in the second half of the season, but missed a penalty in the last game against Mainz (2-2). And since then he has only returned to scoring form once: at the Africa Cup in February, when he heroically led the Ivory Coast to the title against Nigeria (2-1).
It could be expensive for BVB
In the summer, the career exit followed: Haller was loaned out to the Spanish newcomer at the last minute. A career dead end, as is now apparent. Haller’s frustration record: At Leganés he only played seven league games – zero goals, zero assists. Recently he was no longer used twice. The bitter dilemma: There are different opinions about him within the club: CD sports director Txema Indias (53) pushed through the loan transfer, coach Borja Jiménez (39) is not considered a big supporter of Haller.
Although Haller forgoes part of his salary in Spain, BVB only has to contribute around 2.5 million euros of that, according to BILD information. But the real hope is dwindling that Haller will be in the transfer focus with goals in the LaLiga relegation battle and that Dortmund will earn a million-dollar fee next summer.
The BVB bosses have not yet given up the remaining hope of Haller’s goal breakthrough and an end to his market value collapse (currently 7.5 million). But the worst-case scenario is becoming increasingly likely: Haller will not find a new club in the summer and will collect another ten million in his last year of contract with BVB.
The text was written for the Sports Competence Center (WELT, SPORT BILD, BILD) and first published in BILD.
