Borussia Dortmund are close to ending a disappointing spell with Brazilian full-back Yan Couto, who is nearing a move to Como 1907 on loan with an option to buy, according to German newspaper Bild.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says negotiations between the two clubs have reached their final stages, with an agreement now in place over the structure of the deal. Como 1907 would initially sign the 24-year-old on loan, while the purchase option is understood to be worth about €20m.
The transfer had appeared in danger of collapsing at the end of July because of disagreements over the financial terms. However, talks have made significant progress in recent days and Couto’s move to the Italian club is now close to completion.
For Borussia Dortmund, the agreement would provide an opportunity to move on from a signing that has failed to deliver the expected return.
The club completed Couto’s permanent transfer in the summer of 2025 after activating a mandatory purchase clause in his loan agreement with Manchester City. That clause was worth €20m, following a loan spell which had already cost Dortmund about €5m.
Despite that considerable investment, the Brazil international has struggled to establish himself in the team. Couto, who has won four caps for his country, has produced performances well below the level Dortmund had anticipated when they committed to signing him permanently.
His financial impact on the squad has also been significant. Couto is reported to be one of the best-paid players at Dortmund, earning approximately €5m a year, but that salary has not been reflected in his contribution on the pitch.
The defender’s market value has fallen sharply as his recent form has come under scrutiny. It stood at €25m in June 2024 but is now estimated at €17m, underlining the decline in his position in the transfer market.
A move to Como 1907 could therefore give all parties a solution before the start of the new season. Dortmund would have the chance to reduce their wage bill and potentially recover a substantial fee, while Couto would be offered the opportunity to rebuild his form and secure regular football in Italy.
Dortmund had already identified Elias Baum as one of the leading candidates to replace Couto. The 20-year-old full-back currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt and is highly regarded by Dortmund sporting director Ole Book.
Book knows Baum well from their time together at Elversberg, where the player spent the 2024-25 season on loan. Baum established himself as a regular starter during that campaign and strengthened his reputation with a series of convincing performances.
Eintracht Frankfurt, however, have no intention of allowing the young defender to leave despite Dortmund’s interest. Their coach, Adi Hutter, has publicly expressed his desire to keep Baum.
“We will keep him with us because I see him as a full-back who is lively and dynamic. He is one of the club’s academy graduates, and I am very impressed by what he offers. He has performed extremely strongly in training and continues to develop brilliantly,” Hutter said.
