Borussia Dortmund has today completed the signing of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel from VfB Stuttgart.
The 23-year-old Swiss completed an $18.2 million move to the Westfalenstadion after making 65 appearances for Stuttgart. He arrived in Germany in 2014, signing with Hoffenheim's under-19s, before eventually moving on loan to Augsburg in January 2019. Stuttgart first signed Kobel on a season-long loan last year, when he kept 11 clean sheets in 33 appearances as the Swabians secured promotion back to the Bundesliga.
regor obel pic.twitter.com/bpMtiBWr1c
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 31, 2021
Despite conceding 54 goals this season and keeping just five clean sheets, it would appear Dortmund has faith in Kobel to be the club's long-term replacement for fellow Swiss keeper Roman Bürki. The 30-year-old Bürki has been with Dortmund since 2015, racking up over 230 appearances, but it would be fair to say he's never fully convinced in between the posts. He has always been liable to drop the odd clanger at crucial moments and lost his starting spot midway through the past season to compatriot Marwin Hitz.
Sporting director Michael Zorc said of the club's new keeper, “We’re delighted that Gregor Kobel has decided to join Borussia Dortmund ... We believe he has great potential. Gregor’s singlemindedness, his ambition and his consistency are remarkable. His goalkeeping profile is a good fit for us.”
Kobel has signed a contract which runs until June 2026. He will slot right into the number one spot with Bürki expected to depart this summer.
