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Dropping from 42 to seven million euros in market value – that could really only be the Dortmund stock after missing out on the championship in 2023, right? Almost correct. The subject here is Gio Reyna, who was long considered one of Europe’s top talents and, this week, transferred to Borussia Mönchengladbach for a mere three million euros.

The lines already hint at it: In recent years, things have gone steeply downhill for the 22-year-old. After numerous injuries and a failed loan to Nottingham Forest, there was simply no future left for Reyna at BVB. Now, wearing the Foals’ jersey, everything is supposed to get better. But is that really realistic?



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Hard to say. That he can play football is beyond question. It’s no coincidence that Borussia Dortmund signed the American when he was just 16 for their U19 team. Reyna is the classic creative player – strong in one-on-ones, with precise passing, and above all, enormous flexibility. Whether on either wing or in the center – Reyna can fill several positions in attack. However, in Dortmund, he was only given limited opportunities to do so.

Last season alone, the 22-year-old made just 16 Bundesliga appearances for the Black and Yellows. It gets worse. He started only three matches. Coming off the bench, Reyna often struggled. Perhaps also unsettled by the feeling that, at a big club, you always have to deliver to avoid immediately being sidelined again.

Things look a bit different in Gladbach. “Believe me, this is really a transfer where we say: Normally, Gladbach wouldn’t stand a chance in this situation,” explains BMG boss Roland Virkus shortly after the Reyna deal. What he means: For the Foals, Reyna is the absolute marquee signing, expected to lead the midfield and, for now, can look forward to plenty of playing time from the start.

Hmm, but that somehow already sounds like pressure and high expectations. Maybe Reyna should have gone for the Mario Götze move instead.

Article image:Götze move delayed again: This Bundesliga star signing must deliver now

📸 Martin Rose – 2022 Getty Images

The former Dortmund player also chose to move to the Eredivisie in 2020. Far from Germany and the media spotlight, Götze rediscovered his old form at Eindhoven. In the summer of 2022, he returned to the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt. In Hesse, the 33-year-old played a key role, especially in his first two seasons, proving that sometimes a step back can actually be a step forward.

Reyna did have offers from abroad. According to ‘kicker’, he was long linked with Serie A strugglers Parma Calcio and MLS club Los Angeles FC. Nevertheless, Reyna decided to try his luck in the Bundesliga once again. Unlike Götze, the attacking star fortunately has one decisive advantage: his age.

Even though you probably feel like you’ve been seeing Reyna in the Bundesliga context for ten years – the guy is only 22. So if things don’t work out at Gladbach, he theoretically still has enough time to make a fresh start outside the top five leagues. But for now, the Bundesliga seems to be something like his last chance.

Article image:Götze move delayed again: This Bundesliga star signing must deliver now

📸 Stuart Franklin – 2025 Getty Images

If it doesn’t work out with the Foals, not even the best agent in the world will likely be able to place him at another Bundesliga club.

To all Gladbach fans: Sorry for the doom and gloom. Maybe Reyna will take off at Gladbach like a rocket. Often, gifted creative players just need a good dose of trust to deliver their best performance. Unlike at BVB, he could get that in abundance at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

As a disguised striker, he could then form THE new Bundesliga dream duo with Tim Kleindienst, who will hopefully be fit again soon. That’s probably how Gerardo Seoane is imagining the future right now. But maybe the Gladbach coach is also thinking about a new dream trio. Reyna could, for example, play as a number ten alongside Shūto Machino, who joined from Kiel at the start of the summer transfer window, or even take up a wing position.

To answer our initial question: Between Reyna and Gladbach, a summer fling could soon turn into a real love story – maybe even today in Stuttgart. That’s when Gladbach faces VfB at 3:30 p.m.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.


📸 Pool – 2021 Getty Images

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