Out with the old, and in with the new.
That’s what transpired for Borussia Dortmund over the last few days, as on the one hand, they have secured the services of Yan Couto, and on the other, they have said their farewells to one of their most beloved players in Niclas Fullkrug.
For Die-hard Dortmund fans, seeing Fullkrug go is a sad sight to see, with the 31-year-old striker winning the hearts of the Die Borussen faithfuls after a stellar season in which the club went back to the Champions League’s final for the first time since 2012-2013.
With the season starting this month, the Bundesliga giants must now look forward and start another title-charge. Albeit, this time they’ll hope to supplant Fullkrug’s goals with those of someone else.
Dortmund’s loss is West Ham’s gain
Julien Lopetegui hasn’t been shy this transfer window. So far, the Spanish boss has already signed five players, and it seems like they’re not close to being done any minute from now.
Niclas Fullkrug is the latest player to be ticked off Lopetegui’s shopping list.
And for a fee of £27 million, Dortmund’s fox in the box has been poached away.
Perhaps the earlier signing of yet another goal scorer in Serhou Guirassy prompted Dortmund to think that losing a 31-year-old Fullkrug wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. But they’ll miss his presence, of which I’m certain.
It is because Fullkrug isn’t just any ordinary scorer. Sure, he is not a generational talent. You could even make the argument that there are dozens of forwards more prolific than the German international. But what he has is difficult to pass on or teach: grit, sheer will and an undying heart for the sport.
For those who are not familiar, the 6-foot-2 target man was a force to be reckoned with during his one season at Die Borussen. In 29 Bundesliga appearances, Fullkrug tallied 12 goals and eight assists, with the latter being sixth best in that department—a surprise result in the Bundesliga 2024 odds.
He won’t have you leaving your mouths open, in awe of the talent you just saw. Instead, his sheer strength and ability to get to the ball and the instinct he has when it comes to goal scoring are second to none.
Simply put, he is ideal for almost every coach looking for absolutely nothing but old-school and hard-nosed football. None of that fancy stuff that doesn’t translate into results.
In his 13 appearances in the Champions League, Fullkrug also had three goals and three assists. Oh, and he almost scored in the final against Real Madrid, by the way. In his first two seasons with Werder Bremen, he was relatively unknown.
Then Bremen were relegated.
He shone in Bundesliga 2, scoring 19 goals and contributing six assists, which helped his team get back in the German top-flight league. And since we love a good success story here at SBOTOP, Fullkrug’s rise was something that put a smile on our faces.
In Werder Bremen’s first season since being promoted, Fullkrug shocked everyone by being a menace, scoring 16 goals and adding five assists.
He was signed by Dortmund after that exquisite season, and we all know what he did based on his Bundesliga 2024 highlights.
Back in 2022, he became one of Die Mannschaft’s oldest debutants in years. A testament that hard work and being an old-school forward never go out of style.
From Girona to Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund are a hotbed for young and promising players looking to nurture their skills and advance to the next level.
That is why it comes as no surprise that a player of Yan Couto’s calibre has joined them. The Manchester City full-back—who was loaned to Girona—has now been loaned to the Black and Yellows for one year, with an option for him to be bought permanently should the partnership bring outstanding results.
Football fans would know of the 22-year-old Brazilian’s game after he became one of Girona’s key players in a season where they surprised the sporting world.
In his two years at Girona, Couto proved to be an excellent full-back with the ability to launch overlapping runs and help in dissecting defences that just sit at the back. The Brazil international enjoyed his best season with the Spanish side last year, after Girona threatened to win La Liga and secured a Champions League qualification.
His 10 assists in 59 La Liga appearances means more attacking options for Dortmund. And with Nuri Sahin wanting his side to be more prolific in front of goal, I couldn’t think of a better full-back to sign.
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