Rösler clearly stated: "We informed the player after the international break in March that it would be very difficult for him to get playing time." VfL would have liked to let Sissoko go in the winter, but the injury the 30-year-old Malian centre-forward sustained in the training camp in Turkey thwarted the plan. However, in the summer, the paths are likely to part for good. Sissoko joined VfL Bochum in July 2025, and his contract is set to expire in June 2027. He has 8 caps and one goal for Mali. In the current season, Sissoko has made 7 domestic league appearances, scoring one goal. His current Transfermarkt market value is €900k.