Yan Couto Joins Como on Loan from Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund has officially announced the season-long loan of Yan Couto to Como, who are participants in the Champions League. The Brazilian right-back will play for the Serie A club for the entirety of the 2026/27 campaign. While the financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed by Dortmund and Como, reports suggest that Como will pay a €2 million loan fee and have an option to buy the player for approximately €20 million.

Couto's contract with Borussia Dortmund extends until 2030.

An agreement in principle between the two clubs was reached earlier this week. Consequently, Couto missed Dortmund training on Wednesday and traveled to Italy to finalize the transfer. This move concludes a negotiation process that began around two months ago. Although Como's initial interest did not immediately result in an agreement, the Champions League participants eventually re-engaged and secured the 24-year-old.

Couto's Struggles at Dortmund

Yan Couto initially joined Dortmund on loan from Manchester City in the summer of 2024. Shortly thereafter, a purchase clause was activated, making the transfer permanent. The four-time Brazil international made 62 appearances for Dortmund across all competitions but never firmly established himself as a guaranteed starter.

Julian Ryerson consistently remained ahead of Couto in the pecking order for the right-back position. Furthermore, Couto's defensive vulnerabilities hampered his efforts to secure a long-term role in the team. Despite his valuable attacking contributions, technical skill, and acceleration, Dortmund found it challenging to consistently integrate him into their tactical system.

His playing time significantly decreased in the latter part of the previous season. After March, Couto only featured in four brief substitute appearances, totaling just 48 minutes on the field. Head coach Niko Kovač also experimented with Maximilian Beier as an alternative wing-back during preseason, further diminishing the Brazilian's prospects of regular game time.

Couto's Statement on the Transfer

In an official statement released by Como, Couto expressed his happiness with the move. "I'm very happy to be here," he said. "I really like the team’s playing style and philosophy, and I hope I can contribute to making the team even better."

He further added, "I believe this is an important step in my career. I can’t wait to get started."