Borussia Dortmund has made a significant signing by acquiring Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer from Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich elevating everyone with Borussia Dortmund tickets. The 29-year-old Sabitzer signed a contract until June 2027 and will join Dortmund’s summer tour in the US.
Dortmund’s sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, expressed confidence in Sabitzer’s abilities, stating that he is an ideal central midfielder who will strengthen both defensive and offensive aspects as a box-to-box player. The club reportedly paid Bayern around €15-20 million ($17-22 million) for the midfielder.
Sabitzer, who previously played for Leipzig, struggled to find his place in Bayern’s star-studded midfield after joining in 2021 under coach Julian Nagelsmann.
He was subsequently loaned to Manchester United in the second half of last season, but his performances could have been more impactful.
Dortmund’s midfield has been bolstered further with the signing of Felix Nmecha from Wolfsburg to fill the void left by Jude Bellingham’s departure to Real Madrid. Additionally, the club has replaced left-back Raphael Guerreiro, who moved to Bayern, with Ramy Bensebaini from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Emre Can – New Captain?
Emre Can, the midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, has expressed his readiness to take on a leadership role at the club, with or without being named the captain. Following Marco Reus’ decision to step down as captain, Can is considered one of the top candidates for the captaincy, alongside Niklas Süle and Gregor Kobel.
Throughout the seasons, Can has stood out as a leader, getting praise from every fan who purchased Borussia Dortmund tickets, and it is the right choice.
When asked about his interest in becoming the next Borussia Dortmund captain, Can states he would be happy to take on the responsibility. Still, he would be satisfied if he received the armband. He emphasized that his main focus is helping the team and leading by example.
Recently, Can signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2025/26 season. Earlier this summer, there were talks of potentially replacing him with Edson Álvarez, but the club decided to extend Can’s contract and withdrew from pursuing Álvarez.
With Can being the first-choice defensive midfielder for Borussia Dortmund this season, he is likely to be part of the team’s leadership council.
The club’s management plans to hold discussions with the leading candidates during the team’s US Tour, and a decision on the new captain will be made before the start of the season.
Lennard Maloney: It was a great honor to play for Borussia Dortmund
Lennard Maloney expressed his great honor in playing for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga as he prepares to return to the top flight with FC Heidenheim.
After a successful campaign and winning the second-division title last season, FC Heidenheim secured promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history. Lennard Maloney played a crucial role in their promotion bid after joining the club on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
This upcoming season will mark Maloney’s second opportunity in the Bundesliga. He made his top-flight debut with Borussia Dortmund two years ago when he was signed for BVB’s second team.
Due to his impressive performances, then-head coach Marco Rose gave him two brief appearances in the Bundesliga.
In an interview with Kicker, Maloney reflected on his time at Borussia Dortmund and looked ahead to the upcoming season with FC Heidenheim.
He expressed how playing for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga was a great honor, especially considering he was initially part of the U-23 team and not expected to feature for the first team. He also thanked the fans with Borussia Dortmund tickets who supported him throughout his stint.
Playing for the senior team was seen as an unexpected bonus, given the quality of players at BVB.
During the previous season, Maloney made 34 appearances for 1. FC Heidenheim, mostly in defensive midfield, contributed significantly to their promotion to the Bundesliga. He is eager to continue his progress and play a pivotal role in Heidenheim’s attempt to avoid relegation in their maiden Bundesliga campaign.
Maloney emphasized that being part of a team’s promotion to the top league brings a different level of motivation and excitement. He is looking forward to the challenge of competing in the Bundesliga.
Maloney’s ultimate goal is to play for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT), and he hopes that his performances in the Bundesliga will allow him to earn his first call-up to the national team.
The Nico Schulz Situation
Borussia Dortmund is facing challenges in resolving the situation with Nico Schulz, the former Germany and Hoffenheim left-back, who is under contract with the club until 2024.
The issue surrounding Nico Schulz remains problematic for Borussia Dortmund as they continue to deal with their transfer business ahead of the next season.
According to Bild, the situation has reached a point where Dortmund may be willing to let Schulz leave without a transfer fee, and they might even assist in funding part of his 5.5 million euro annual salary to facilitate his departure.
This situation is a result of desperate measures taken by Dortmund. When they signed Schulz for 25 million euros from Hoffenheim in 2019, they expected him to have a lasting impact on the team’s defense, but that has yet to materialize. Coupled with off-field controversies that angered fans with Borussia Dortmund tickets, Schulz’s lackluster performances have made Edin Terzić and the club clear that he no longer has a future at Dortmund.
He last featured for the club in May 2022, around 433 days ago.
The unfolding of Schulz’s situation has been concerning, as he was explicitly allowed to negotiate a transfer with interested clubs, but nothing concrete has materialized. Serie A sides Atalanta and Lazio have been linked with him, but those moves have yet to gain momentum.
With only one more year left on his current deal, Dortmund will have to deal with his significant salary until next summer. Spending 5.5 million euros on a player who won’t play any role for the club is a considerable financial burden.
Dortmund hopes that Schulz and his entourage can find a solution allowing him to move elsewhere. Among all the players Dortmund is looking to offload, Schulz is proving to be the most difficult, and it may require exceptional negotiation skills from Sebastian Kehl to resolve the current situation between the player and the club.
New Season
Last season in the Bundesliga competition, the German team performed impressively and held a commanding lead for most of the season. However, their hopes of winning the championship were dashed on May 27 when they faced Mainz at Signal Iduna Park, breaking the hearts of the loyal fans who turn in weekly with Borussia Dortmund tickets.
This resulted in a stalemate that allowed Bayern Munich to secure the Bundesliga title for the 11th consecutive season, thanks to a slight point differential advantage.
Dortmund is gearing up for their upcoming fixtures as the new season approaches.
On August 19, they will face Koln in a highly anticipated match at an exciting start to the season. Following that, on August 26, Dortmund will go head-to-head against VFL Bochum, showcasing their determination to bounce back and compete for the Bundesliga title once again. The team’s loyal fans eagerly look forward to witnessing their performances and cheering them on as they aim to reclaim the coveted championship.
Borussia Dortmund tickets for the opening fixtures are now available for sale.
