Dortmund land Guirassy after activating €17.5M release clause

Borussia Dortmund on Thursday said they had signed Serhou Guirassy from Bundesliga rivals Stuttgart, ending their long pursuit of the Guinean striker.

"Borussia Dortmund have strengthened their attack with the signing of 28-year-old Serhou Guirassy from VfB Stuttgart," announced Dortmund on X.

The agreement with the striker was delayed after Guirassy's initial medical at Dortmund revealed an injury that required "further investigation," according to the club.

After additional tests, Dortmund established that a knock picked up by Guirassy in an international game towards the end of the season did "not need to be operated (on)," the club said in a statement.

The striker, born in France, will follow a solo recovery programme before starting training with his new team.

Dortmund sealed Guirassy's signing after meeting the €17.5-million release clause in his contract, according to German media.

Guirassy's contract with Dortmund will go to June 2028, the club said. 

Guirassy had a breakout campaign with Stuttgart last season, scoring 28 goals in as many league games and propelling Stuttgart to a surprise second-place finish and a Champions League berth in his first season with the team.

Stuttgart beat Dortmund three times in all competitions in 2023-24, with Guirassy scoring in each game.

The striker is the second player Dortmund have signed from Stuttgart during this transfer window following the transfer of German defender Waldemar Anton.

Dortmund now have four strikers on their books, with Guirassy joining Germany No. 9 Niclas Fullkrug, Ivory Coast forward Sebastien Haller and teenager Youssoufa Moukoko.

Despite reaching the Champions League final last season, where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid, Dortmund had a disappointing domestic campaign.

Just one season after losing the title on goal difference, Dortmund finished in fifth place last term, 27 points behind Xabi Alonso's unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen.

At the end of the season just gone, Dortmund lost veterans Marco Reus and Mats Hummels and saw the departure of coach Edin Terzic. Former Dortmund player Nuri Sahin was appointed to take the reins at the club.