Guirassy’s Brother Critiques CAF Exclusion Amid Transfer Speculations

Karamba Guirassy, the brother and agent of Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, has launched a vehement critique of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in response to his brother’s exclusion from the final three nominees for the 2025 African Footballer of the Year award. The CAF revealed its three finalists on Sunday: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), and Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray).

In a pointed Instagram message, Karamba expressed his discontent, labeling the decision a “putain de honte,” which translates to “a disgrace.” He immediately followed this with a reminder of his brother’s remarkable accomplishments over the past year, asserting that these achievements justified his inclusion among the nominees.

Karamba detailed his brother’s impressive statistics and accolades from the year 2025 to emphasize the perceived unfairness of the decision. Guirassy emerged as a joint top scorer in the Champions League, netting 13 goals, a significant accomplishment against Europe’s elite teams. Additionally, he concluded the Bundesliga season as its second-highest scorer.

Moreover, Guirassy was the leading scorer at the FIFA Club World Cup and was recognized as the top African goalscorer in 2025 across all competitions. His consistent performance also earned him a nomination for FIFA’s Best Striker award and a commendable 21st place in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

Since transferring to Borussia Dortmund from Stuttgart in the summer of 2024 for €18 million (£15m/$19m), Guirassy has had an outstanding debut season, amassing an impressive total of 38 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions. This season, he has maintained his goal-scoring prowess with seven goals in 15 appearances, including five goals in nine Bundesliga games and one goal paired with three assists in four Champions League matches.

Guirassy’s prolific scoring has been pivotal for Borussia Dortmund, who secured a UEFA Champions League berth last season under coach Niko Kovac. Kovac has successfully transformed BVB into a formidable team, and Guirassy’s contributions have been crucial in propelling the team forward.

At the onset of this season, Dortmund’s offense was dynamic, with 12 goals in their first six Bundesliga matches, resulting in an unbeaten record (W4, D2). While their scoring has somewhat diminished since, with only four goals in the past four games, Kovac has publicly supported Guirassy despite a recent stretch of one goal in his last six appearances. “We’re missing his goals at the moment, but he’ll get back to that,” Kovac remarked to Kicker. “I’m glad to have him, and I’ll stick with him. He’s not just a great striker; he’s also a wonderful person.”

Meanwhile, Dortmund’s defense remains formidable, achieving six clean sheets in their first ten Bundesliga matches. They currently trail Bayern Munich by seven points and have only suffered one defeat in both the DFB Cup and the Champions League, positioning them favorably for multi-front competition.

Guirassy’s outstanding form has piqued the interest of several Premier League clubs. Reports suggest that the 29-year-old is “preparing to explore his options ahead of the January transfer window,” with a “modest release clause” in his contract attracting the attention of major European teams.

Clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United are reportedly in discussions regarding a potential transfer. Liverpool is seeking depth behind Alexander Isak, while Arsenal is on the lookout for a clinical striker to complement Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. Similarly, Manchester City is in search of rotational depth behind Erling Haaland, and Chelsea aims to resolve its long-standing center-forward dilemma. However, Manchester United’s interest is complicated by the need to facilitate Benjamin Sesko’s development.

Adding an intriguing dimension to the situation, transfer expert Nicolo Schira reported that a Saudi Arabian club is “ready” to offer Guirassy a lucrative three-year contract valued at €20 million per season, totaling €60 million. Nevertheless, Guirassy is believed to prefer remaining competitive in Europe’s top leagues.

Presently, Guirassy’s immediate future lies with Borussia Dortmund, where he is contracted until 2028. However, the controversy surrounding the African Footballer of the Year award, combined with ongoing transfer rumors and a release clause, suggests that the January transfer window could be significant.

Guirassy will aim to regain his prolific early-season form to assist Dortmund in their pursuits in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup, and Champions League. His performances in the upcoming weeks will be critical in attracting further interest from top European clubs and may influence his decision regarding a long-term transfer, particularly in light of the lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. The developments in these discussions will undoubtedly be closely monitored as one of Europe’s most in-form strikers evaluates his next career steps.