Borussia Dortmund have identified Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal as a priority target for the 2026 summer transfer window, with the young defender emerging as a key option to strengthen their backline.
According to reports from Sky Sport and Goal, the 19-year-old Stade Rennais FC center-back has been internally approved by the club’s sporting leadership. Sporting director Ole Book is said to be pushing for the move as part of Dortmund’s long-term defensive planning.
The Bundesliga side are also preparing for a possible departure of Nico Schlotterbeck, with Aït Boudlal viewed as a natural successor who fits the club’s model of developing high-potential talent.
Financially, the deal could escalate quickly. While the defender’s current market value is estimated at around €10 million, growing interest could drive the fee into the €25-30 million range.
Among the candidates for a new centre-back at Borussia Dortmund is 19-year-old Moroccan centre-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal of Rennes.
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Under contract at Rennes until June 2028, Aït Boudlal has attracted attention for his profile as a modern center-back: comfortable in possession, strong in duels, and composed in reading the game.
Rennes, aware of his rising value, are keen to secure his future with a contract extension. However, Dortmund face competition, with Liverpool FC and LOSC Lille also monitoring the situation closely.
As a Morocco international and a fresh AFCON winner, Aït Boudlal’s stock is through the roof right now. There’s nothing official on the table yet, but expect things to really heat up as we get closer to the summer window.
Read also: ‘I Don’t Know Where His Limit Is’: Ait Boudlal Shines for Rennes
