3 weeks ago
22
Now official
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Borussia Mönchengladbach have signed US men’s national team player Giovanni Reyna. The 22-year-old becomes the Bundesliga club’s fifth signing this summer. The playmaker leaves Borussia Dortmund after six years with the club and becomes the third player to move from Dortmund’s Borussia to Gladbach’s Borussia. According to reports in Germany, the transfer fee is €7m including bonuses. The deal breaks up to be €4m initially plus €3m in easy to reach bonuses.
“Gio is an experienced but still young player with significant potential,” Gladbach director of sport Roland Virkus said. “We have followed his path for some time and are convinced that his profile can help us grow the club. He knows the Bundesliga and can play several positions in the attack.” Added Reyna: “Borussia is a great club. I am very happy the transfer worked out and I am looking forward to meeting the people here and taking on the sporting challenges.”
In their bid to sign Reyna, Gladbach managed to outbid Serie A club Parma while also lowering Dortmund’s initial asking price of €10m. The American was entering the final year of his contract and struggled for playing time in Dortmund. As a result, the two sides agreed on a deal that equates his current €7m market value. Last season, Reyna managed 26 appearances (two goals) but only played 24 minutes on average. His market value dropped from €18m to €7m—back in the fall of 2021, Reyna’s market value was €42m.
Gio Reyna: Why did he pick Gladbach over Parma?
Only two players have joined Gladbach from Dortmund in the past, and both were a big success. In January 2016, 23-year-old Jonas Hofmann joined Gladbach from Dortmund in a deal worth €8m and became a star and German national team player. The other player is Matthias Ginter, who joined in the summer of 2017 in a deal worth €17m and would subsequently increase his market value to €35m. Reyna could now become the latest player to rekindle his career after joining the Foals from Dortmund.
Why did Reyna opt for Gladbach over Parma? Initially, it is a surprise that Reyna would opt for staying in Germany over trying his luck in another league. But Transfermarkt understands that there were several factors that made the playmaker favor going to Gladbach over Parma. One factor is Joe Scally. The two are not just USMNT teammates but also played together in the New York City FC academy. The other factor is Gladbach’s proximity to Dortmund. Reyna won’t have to uproot his life in Western Germany, which will make the transition to a new club far easier ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
