Borussia Dortmund spent 25 million Euros on Yan Couto. While the Brazilian’s second year showed improvement over his first, 2026 in particular proved to be an abysmal year for the 23-year-old.
Comparing the final moments of Borussia Dortmund’s first and last competitive matches of the season, one might assume Yan Couto’s year ended positively. Last August, during the cup match in Essen (1-0), Kelsey Owusu committed a foul with a stretched leg and full force against the Brazilian’s knee in the fifth minute of added time.
Coach Niko Kovac later stated that the foul, which was only punished with a yellow card, was «almost an attack.» However, five days later, Couto was fit again and played 90 minutes on the first matchday of the Bundesliga. 33 matchdays later, it was again the 90+5th minute when the full-back came into focus. In the victory in Bremen, Couto contributed the late 2-0 final score.
This was Couto’s sixth goal involvement (three goals, three assists), representing a 500 percent increase compared to his dismal previous year. However, that’s almost all the good news about the 23-year-old. After two completed seasons, Couto has delivered far too little performance for his enormous transfer fee of 25 million Euros, and is well on his way to being definitively labeled a transfer flop.
He had a significantly better start to this season. Couto was in the starting lineup several times in a row and showed noticeable improvement. He reduced the wide range of his previous shortcomings – technical errors, poor positioning, a low tackle success rate, insufficient physicality – and gradually shed his high error rate. In offense, he frequently moved into the center, and his crosses also improved. He recorded five of his six goal involvements in the first half of the season.
Yan Couto’s Problem is Julian Ryerson
But precisely that became Couto’s problem – the keyword ‘goal involvements’: He simply had the bad luck that his competitor, Julian Ryerson, had arguably the best season of his life in this category. The Norwegian ultimately provided 18 assists, and the combination of ‘Ryerson’s cross, Guirassy’s goal’ became BVB’s most infamous attacking play.
This is why Kovac commented on Couto a few weeks ago: «I am very satisfied with his development. Yan has had significantly more playing time this season than last year. Julian is performing really well, doing great offensively. He has the most assists. Therefore, it is painful for Yan, but even more beautiful for me that I have two good lads on the right side.»
It is not uncommon for Kovac to speak kindly about players, only to keep them on the sidelines for extended periods. He had promised Salih Özcan significantly more minutes in the winter, but did not keep his word. The situation is similar with Couto: In 37.5 percent of the 72 competitive matches the Croatian coached at BVB, Couto sat on the bench for 90 minutes (27 times). Nine times in 2026 alone.
Abysmal Year 2026 for Yan Couto at BVB
This year, it must be said, was abysmal for the four-time international. Couto only started four more times, the last being at the end of February in the 2-3 loss against FC Bayern. Since then, Kovac has only given him 41 minutes of playing time.
It is self-evident that this trend is not in Couto’s favor. Ryerson will remain the favorite for the right wing-back position next season. Therefore, it would be anything but surprising if the paths of Dortmund and Couto were to diverge – in whatever form. The *Ruhr Nachrichten* reported five weeks ago that his «future is uncertain.»
How Comfortable is Yan Couto in Germany?
Furthermore, the question remains how comfortable Couto feels in Germany at all. During the Club World Cup last summer, he made telling statements to the Brazilian pay-TV channel *SporTV*: «I didn’t expect the move to Germany to be so different. Both personally and in dealing with the cold and people who are more withdrawn. 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.»
Das. Mehr nicht. pic.twitter.com/XRRvsl4n0g
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) May 8, 2026
Of course, this becomes easier when one feels needed as an athlete and can regularly do what they enjoy most. Couto has been granted this too rarely at Dortmund so far.
During the last home game of the season, after a victory against Frankfurt and the farewell of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Özcan, a team photo was taken in front of the Südtribüne. Only Couto looked anything but happy.
Yan Couto: Performance Data and Statistics
| Team | Matches | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Girona | 95 | 5 | 17 | 5,930 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 62 | 3 | 4 | 2,896 |
| SC Braga | 42 | 1 | 4 | 2,930 |