Borussia Dortmund’s No. 1 goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, has revealed that it was a “relatively easy” decision to reject strong interest from Chelsea this summer—saying that playing in the Premier League was never his dream.
🔒 Commitment to Dortmund
Despite reports that Chelsea and Newcastle were vying for his signature—Chelsea even making an estimated €55–70 million bid—Kobel reaffirmed his loyalty to Borussia Dortmund. He emphasized his deep connection to the club:
“It was never my ‘dream’ to play in the Premier League,” Kobel said, confirming his intent to stay put
German outlet Kicker reported that Kobel was irritated by transfer speculation, asserting that he feels completely settled at Signal Iduna Park and has no intentions to leave this summer
💰 Premier League Interest
Interest in the Swiss shot‑stopper was well documented:
- Chelsea reportedly tabled an initial €55 million offer and had meetings lined up with Kobel’s agent
- Newcastle also showed interest, though Dortmund is reportedly seeking between €60–70 million for his services
- Man United was linked as a potential suitor as well, driven by a desire to upgrade their goalkeeping options
🧤 Why He Chose to Stay
Kobel—who has kept 12 clean sheets this season and helped Dortmund qualify for the Champions League—made it clear that the club’s support and his own ambitions aligned better than any overseas move could.
Borussia Dortmund’s managing director, Lars Ricken, praised Kobel as “top‑class,” and his long-term contract (running until 2028) was seen as pivotal in keeping him with the club . Without missing goals, he earned praise this season for consistently making big saves.
📈 What This Means for Dortmund and Chelsea
- Dortmund can breathe easy as their top shot‑stopper remains committed. In fact, the club has even started lining up a future successor, with Ajax’s young keeper Diant Ramaj signed this past winter
- Chelsea, meanwhile, must look elsewhere. Having spent heavily in recent windows on multiple keepers—including Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic, Kalidou Kepa, and rookie Mike Penders—their pursuit of Kobel has cooled, according to recent reports
Final Take
Gregor Kobel has made a decisive stand—Battling speculation, sustained interest from top English clubs, and impressive form, the Swiss keeper has chosen club loyalty over his own headline-making momentum. The Premier League’s West End lights may shine bright, but for Kobel, Stuttgart’s upbeat world Stays centered in Dortmund.
