Sebastien Haller transfer held up as striker demands big pay off from Borussia Dortmund

Sebastien Haller’s return to Utrecht hangs in the balance amid a bitter dispute with Borussia Dortmund over a multi-million euro severance package.

Dortmund are locked in talks with Haller over ending his contract, which runs until 2026, a year early. According to Bild, the club have offered a €2 million severance package, but the striker is demanding €6m, over half of his annual salary, before agreeing to the move.

Haller’s exit would free up significant wages, with Dortmund’s pursuit of Fabio Silva, currently a hot candidate for a move reportedly depend on reaching an agreement with the Ivorian. The 31-year-old would also gain the chance for regular football again. Injuries, illness and dips in form have defined his Dortmund spell, with the striker falling behind Serhou Guirassy and Niklas Fullkrug in the pecking order. Both parties previously agreed on a termination, but the size of the payoff has now become a stumbling block.

Haller joined Die Schwarzgelben from Ajax for €31m (£27m/$36m) with high expectations but faced a life-changing cancer diagnosis soon after arriving. After returning, he enjoyed a strong second half of the 2022-23 season, but his missed penalty against Mainz on the final day saw Bayern clinch the Bundesliga title. A later loan spell at Leganes failed to reignite his form, though a return to Utrecht, where he played last season, remains his most likely next step.