Borussia Dortmund confirmed on Monday that striker Sebastien Haller has completed a permanent move to Dutch club FC Utrecht.
The 31-year-old Ivory Coast international reportedly joined on a free transfer, having mutually agreed to end his Dortmund contract a year early. Haller spent the second half of last season on loan at Utrecht, where he previously played from 2015 to 2017.
“There was interest from other clubs this summer, but for me, there was only one ideal destination — FC Utrecht,” Haller said via the club’s official website.
His departure brings an end to a challenging spell at Dortmund. Signed from Ajax for €31 million in 2022, Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer shortly after arriving and missed six months of action while undergoing treatment.
He returned to the pitch later that season but missed a crucial penalty on the final day of the 2022–23 Bundesliga campaign, a 2-2 draw with Mainz that cost Dortmund the title, handing it to Bayern Munich.
Despite his struggles at club level, Haller made a remarkable comeback on the international stage, scoring the winning goal for Ivory Coast in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria.
