Official Dortmund confirm end to Rheinmetall sponsorship following sustained fan opposition
Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that they will not renew their controversial sponsorship agreement with German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, bringing an end to a partnership that has drawn sustained opposition from the club's supporters since its introduction in 2024. The Bundesliga club announced on Friday that the existing agreement will expire as scheduled on June 30, 2027.
Rheinmetall, which became a BVB Champion Partner in May 2024, currently advertises on the club's stadium hoardings and other commercial platforms but does not appear on Dortmund's shirts. According to Kicker, the agreement has generated a high single-digit million-euro sum annually for the club.
Previous reporting placed the sponsorship's value at approximately €10 million per season. The decision marks the conclusion of a dispute that has occupied Dortmund's leadership, members, and organised supporter groups for more than two years.
Get German Football Newsreported in October that newly appointed BVB CEO Carsten Cramer was already inclined to allow the partnership to expire despite Rheinmetall's desire to extend the commercial relationship. Borussia Dortmund respond to years of supporter opposition The sponsorship proved contentious almost immediately after its announcement ahead of Dortmund's appearance in the 2024 Champions League final.
Supporters questioned the compatibility of a football club's commercial activities with the promotion of a company manufacturing military equipment. Others within Dortmund's leadership defended the partnership by emphasising the importance of defence and security in a changing European political environment.
Opposition became particularly visible during Dortmund's opening Bundesliga home fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt in August 2024. More than 90 organised fan clubs and supporter groups had backed the coordinated protests, while demonstrators outside Signal Iduna Park displayed symbolic red cards and a mock tank carrying a message criticising Rheinmetall's relationship with the club.
Numerous banners appeared inside the stadium, with sections of the Südtribüne also withholding vocal support temporarily. The protests continued throughout the partnership and eventually led to a formal expression of opposition from Dortmund's membership.
At the club's November 2024 general meeting,556 members voted in favour of a motion opposing the sponsorship and calling for its earliest possible conclusion. There were 247 votes against and 52 abstentions.
The membership decision was not legally binding on the management of Borussia Dortmund's publicly listed professional football company. Nevertheless, it established a clear position among participating members and remained an important part of the subsequent discussion.