Yan Couto's Struggles Continue Despite €25 Million Transfer to Borussia Dortmund

Yan Couto's transfer to Borussia Dortmund for €25 million has yet to yield the expected returns on the pitch. Although his second season showed improvement over his first, the year 2026 has been particularly challenging for the 23-year-old full-back.

At the start of the season, Couto appeared to be on an upward trajectory. In the opening cup match against Essen, he suffered a harsh tackle from Kelsey Owusu in stoppage time, which Dortmund's manager Niko Kovac described as "almost an assault," despite only a yellow card being issued. Remarkably, Couto recovered quickly and played the full 90 minutes in the Bundesliga opener five days later. By the end of the season, he once again made a decisive impact, contributing to a 2-0 victory in Bremen during stoppage time.

Throughout the season, Couto recorded six goal contributions—three goals and three assists—marking a 500 percent increase compared to his previous campaign. Despite this progress, his overall output remains modest relative to his €25 million transfer fee, and concerns about him becoming a "transfer flop" continue to grow.

Early in the season, Couto secured several starts and showed noticeable improvements in his technical skills, positioning, and physicality. He frequently moved inside from the wing, enhancing the threat of his crosses; notably, five of his six goal contributions occurred in the first half of the campaign.

Competition with Julian Ryerson

Couto faces stiff competition from teammate Julian Ryerson, whose performance this season has overshadowed him. Ryerson delivered a career-best 18 assists, with the "Ryerson cross, Serhou Guirassy goal" becoming a hallmark of Dortmund's attack.

Manager Kovac recently commented on the situation: "I'm very pleased with his development. Yan has had a lot more playing time this season than last year. Julian is performing really well, doing a great job in attack. He's provided the most assists. So it's painful for Yan, but all the more pleasing for me that I have two good lads on the right flank."

However, Kovac has a pattern of praising players before limiting their game time. Last winter, he promised Salih Özcan more minutes, which never materialized. The same trend is evident with Couto, who has been an unused substitute in 27 of the 72 matches Kovac has managed at Dortmund (37.5%), including nine times already in 2026.

2026 Season Difficulties and Uncertain Future

The year 2026 has been especially difficult for Couto. He has started only four matches this season, the latest being a 2–3 loss to Bayern Munich in late February. Since then, he has played just 41 minutes.

This scarcity of playing time is detrimental to Couto's development, and with Ryerson expected to retain the right-back position next season, a transfer away from Dortmund appears likely. The Ruhr Nachrichten reported five weeks ago that Couto's "future is uncertain."

Adjustment Challenges in Germany

Questions persist about how well Couto has adapted to life in Germany. During last summer's Club World Cup, he spoke to Brazilian pay-TV channel SporTV about his difficulties: "I didn't expect moving to Germany to be so different—both personally and in dealing with the cold and the people, who tend to keep to themselves. It's not easy; it makes a big difference. That's why many Brazilians no longer go to Germany. It's a challenge for me; I have to deal with it."

Such adaptation is easier when a player feels valued and regularly participates, but Couto has rarely had that opportunity at Dortmund. This was evident when the team gathered for a photo after their final home win against Frankfurt; while others appeared relaxed, Couto stood out as uneasy.

Performance Statistics Overview

Yan Couto's career statistics include 95 matches, 5 goals, and 17 assists with FC Girona, totaling 5,930 minutes played. At Borussia Dortmund, he has appeared in 62 matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 4 assists over 2,896 minutes. Additionally, he played 42 matches for SC Braga, scoring 1 goal and assisting 4 times in 2,930 minutes.