Borussia Dortmund announces defence firm Rheinmetall as sponsor

On 27 May 2024, Borussia Dortmund announced a sponsorship partnership with Rheinmetall, the Düsseldorf-based defence and arms group. The Bundesliga club, listed on the stock exchange, presented the deal as a commercial partnership and made it public shortly after the end of the 2023-24 season.

The announcement quickly divided supporters. Dortmund's fan scene, which includes an active ultras culture and a strong tradition of political engagement, objected to a weapons manufacturer appearing alongside the club's name. Critics argued that the deal clashed with the values many fans associate with BVB, while some supporters accepted it in light of Germany's changed security policy since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Club leadership, including managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, defended the decision and rejected the idea that the club was taking a political stance on war. The dispute nevertheless became a lasting topic of debate in German football about sponsors, ethics and the relationship between clubs and their supporters, and it set the stage for later pressure on the club to reconsider the partnership.