From collapse to completion: Why Yan Couto's Como switch from Dortmund is back on

Yan Couto has been at the centre of what can only be described as a rollercoaster of a transfer saga so far this summer. It has been clear since the end of the Bundesliga season that Yan Couto’s future was likely to be elsewhere due to a severe lack of game time for Borussia Dortmund, owing to the fantastic form of Norwegian right back Julian Ryerson throughout the last campaign.

Serie A side Como immediately emerged as the front runners and favourites for the Brazilians signature this summer, but the deal was making very slow progress as a fee was unable to be agreed. Then, reports emerged of an agreement in principle between Borussia Dortmund and Como. A couple of weeks would go by, with many believing it was just a matter of time until Borussia Dortmund announced Yan Couto’s departure. 

However, after the period of complete silence, credible outlets were suggesting that talks had stopped and that the deal was on the verge of collapse due to the structure of the deal being a key sticking point for Como and Borussia Dortmund. With the former of those in Como prepared to walk away and look at other targets, it then seemed for all the world that if Yan Couto was going to get his move away from Borussia Dortmund this summer, it wasn’t going to be with Como. 

However, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, Como have been working to try and get the deal back on track and are still keen on signing Yan Couto from Borussia Dortmund. He then goes on to say that the full-back will join Como on loan for the season with an option to buy. Patrick Berger then reported that the fee that has been agreed on for the buy option is €20 million, with Como already committing to paying a loan fee and the majority of his salary. 

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Given this deal was dead in the water before Como pushed to get it back to a point where a completion is close, you may be wondering why Como is so keen on this deal to happen. Well, from a Como point of view, Yan Couto fits their club recruitment preference. Como ideally likes to buy players who are still relatively young, allowing them to have a high ceiling and room to grow into high-value players that they can either keep and build with or sell on for significantly more than what they paid for them initially.

Additionally, Yan Couto also fits the Cesc Fabregas and Como style of play. Como likes to play front-footed fast football, and Yan Couto is an attacking full-back who can also operate as a wing-back, meaning that there is an element of versatility about Couto as well. And while yes, his defensive ability has been questioned over the years, with him being 24, there is still plenty of time for him to improve that side of his game, to become more of an all-rounded and complete full back.

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So this move now looks as though it is going to be completed. Overall, it is a good move for Yan Couto, who will be hoping that with a move to Serie A and playing under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas, he will finally be able to kick on in his career and show the potential that he clearly has. 

As for Dortmund, it is a wage, or at least part of a wage for now, off the books, and they will also be hoping that he does well in Italy so they can receive the €20 million buy clause if Como triggers it. This would mean that Dortmund have made no loss from when they bought him from Manchester City for €20 million, and if anything, with the loan fee as well, they would be set to make a small profit, so potentially good business for all involved.