Borussia Dortmund will not extend its controversial sponsorship deal with German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall beyond the current season, as reported by nos.nl, following intense fan protests and member pressure.
Borussia Dortmund announced on its club website that the agreement will expire after this term. nos.nl reported that the deal, initially announced in 2024, was slated to span three seasons and generate more than twenty million euros for the club.
Supporters immediately voiced strong opposition to the arrangement upon its unveiling. Fans organized various protest actions, arguing that the club should not help polish the image of a weapons manufacturer.
Carsten Cramer, chairman of the management board, addressed the club website on Friday, stating that leadership did not turn a deaf ear to supporter sentiment. “We are aware of the criticism from our members and a part of the fans,” Cramer told nos.nl. “We have now taken that aspect into account in our discussions with Rheinmetall.”
During the 2024 annual general meeting, club members openly spoke out against extending the collaboration past 2027. The current decision to bypass a renewal stems directly from those member directives.
Cramer maintained that he still stands behind the initial logic of the commercial deal. “But we must take all perspectives and considerations of our stakeholders into account and ultimately make a decision,” Cramer told nos.nl.
Dortmund acknowledged that halting the agreement immediately restricts financial flexibility moving forward. Planned investments now require reprioritization as the board evaluates how to secure viable economic solutions.
