Borussia Dortmund part ways with sporting director Kehl

Borussia Dortmund will part ways with sporting director Sebastian Kehl with immediate effect, the Bundesliga club said on Sunday.

Kehl, 46, played for Dortmund for 13 years, winning three Bundesliga titles and the German Cup. He was head of professional football 2018-2022 and then became sporting director.

His future at the club had been in doubt for a while and he was lately linked with a move to SV Hamburg.

Managing director for sport Lars Ricken said they had originally agreed to part ways after the season but "to allow both sides to prepare for this, we have mutually agreed to terminate Sebastian’s contract with immediate effect.

"Sebastian has made an enormous contribution to our club, and we are very grateful to him for his great dedication,” Ricken said.

Kehl said: “Borussia Dortmund has been a part of my life for half my life, and I feel a deep connection to this wonderful club. Nevertheless, we have now come to the mutual conclusion that it is time to move on – both for BVB and for me.

"I owe a great deal to Borussia Dortmund and am proud to have been part of the BVB family for around 24 years," he added. "it has been an honour."

"The groundwork has been laid here; I wish the club all the very best in its new direction and continued success."

Dortmund are second in the Bundesliga this season but out of the German Cup and Champions League. Their last Bundesliga title was in 2012.