Key Takeaways:
- Borussia Dortmund and Como have agreed terms for a season-long loan deal involving Yan Couto
- Como will pay a €2m loan fee and have a €20m option to make the move permanent next summer
- Yan Couto missed Dortmund training to conduct transfer negotiations, with the deal now awaiting official confirmation
Loan Deal Finalised Between Borussia Dortmund and Como
Borussia Dortmund’s Brazilian right-back Yan Couto is poised to join Serie A newcomers Como on loan for the upcoming season, after both clubs reached a full agreement regarding his transfer. The 24-year-old defender was absent from Dortmund training as he entered discussions over his future.
🚨🔵⚪️ Como reach verbal agreement with Borussia Dortmund for Yan Couto, here we go!
€2m loan fee, option to buy over €20m and travel on Wednesday for medical and contract signing. pic.twitter.com/cIAHQZjwjM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 4, 2026
| Player | Age | Current Club | Loan Club | Loan Fee | Purchase Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yan Couto | 24 | Borussia Dortmund | Como | €2,000,000 | €20,000,000 |
Details of the Transfer Agreement
Negotiations for Couto’s move had recently resumed after previous talks were held up by differences over the financial structure of the deal. Como are now set to pay a €2m loan fee to Borussia Dortmund. Additionally, the deal incorporates a purchase option valued at €20m, providing Como with the opportunity to sign Couto on a permanent basis in the summer of 2027.
Competition for the Right-Back Position
Yan Couto originally joined Borussia Dortmund on loan from Manchester City in the summer of 2024, before the Bundesliga outfit exercised an obligation to buy. Despite his arrival, Couto has struggled to cement a regular starting place on the right side of defence, with Julian Ryerson maintaining his status as first-choice following a strong finish to the previous campaign.
Squad Options and Tactical Adjustments
Head coach Niko Kovač has experimented with squad roles throughout the preseason, notably deploying Maximilian Beier in a deeper, wide position. Beier, who played as a right wing-back during the friendly against FC Tokyo and previously featured on the left during the closing stages of the previous Bundesliga season, offers pace, attacking threat, and defensive solidity. His emergence may help Dortmund address the void left by Couto’s impending departure.
Julian Ryerson remains Kovac’s preferred choice on the right flank, while on the opposite side, Daniel Svensson and the young Brazilian Kauã Prates complete the list of defensive wing-back options.
