What has been haunting BVB like an open secret for months was also confirmed by the player himself last weekend: Axel Witsel will leave Borussia Dortmund after this season. While the midfielder was undisputed in his early years with the Black and Yellows, he has recently become more and more obsolete. A balance sheet.
The order when Witsel was signed by the Chinese first division club Tianjin Quanjian in the summer of 2018 for a fee of 20 million euros was clear: the Belgian national player should herald a change at BVB, lead Westphalia with his experience and mentality to the long-awaited first championship title since 2012.
“Axel is a player with a lot of international experience who has all the skills to shape the central BVB midfield: tactical understanding, tackling strength, speed, creativity and mentality,” said BVB manager Michael Zorc at the time about the king’s transfer from Dortmund. Incidentally, he had completed the deal shortly before the end of the transfer period, when the team was already in the summer training camp.
Great expectations, which the new leader in Dortmund’s midfield fulfilled almost perfectly in his first year. 33 Bundesliga appearances were recorded in 2018/2019, no other BVB outfield player has played more minutes this season. Also in the premier class he was the long runner for his colors.
Witsel brings stability to BVB, but no titles
The only thing Witsel lacked in his first season in Dortmund was what he was transferred from China to the Ruhr area for: titles. With a strong 76 points, BVB only finished second in the Bundesliga in Witsel’s first year behind series champions FC Bayern.
Dortmund’s number 28 established himself as a pass machine in midfield to an indispensable size under the then head coach Lucien Favre, was considered the aggressive leader at Borussia alongside six Thomas Delaney.
In BVB’s second year as well, Witsel held the reins of the Dortmund game firmly in his hand and impressed with outstanding passing and tackling values. In the Bundesliga he was considered one of the best ball conquerors of all, and was also an absolute constant in Borussia’s game as a passing station and ball distributor.
In his first two years at BVB, no one played more passes than Witsel, no one fought more duels and no one ran more.
The Belgian’s game, which was played with great effort, was particularly well received by the Dortmund team. Not infrequently, Witsel’s actions in the midfield center were given special applause.
Witsel was untouchable in his first BVB years
But Witsel’s inviolability at BVB headquarters ended abruptly in January 2021. In his Dortmund team’s 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig, he suffered the most serious injury of his career, diagnosis: torn Achilles tendon. Witsel should not play any more competitive games for his BVB until August.
Since then, football has evolved under new head coach Marco Rose in Dortmund. Witsel does not always seem happy in his team’s midfield, not always in good hands.
The now 33-year-old fell clearly against the omnipresent Jew Bellingham, as well as against the strengthened Mahmoud Dahoud, who challenged him for his regular place. Initially, Witsel had shown himself combative after his injury: “I’m not afraid of having to prove myself.”
However, he no longer came close to his former top values - regardless of whether it was mileage, duels won or pass rate. The impression grew more and more that Witsel had become replaceable at BVB.
Witsel rumors with Newcastle or Juventus
There were 20 starting eleven appearances in his fourth year in the Ruhr area until the end, and the veteran found himself on the bench more and more often. Others have long since taken command of the headquarters.
After confirming his BVB farewell in two weeks, Witsel made no secret of the fact that he would be “very sad” about the end of his time at Borussia Dortmund.
BVB has no further sporting use for one of its top earners (estimated at 7.5 million euros per year). The 120-time national player himself is not yet thinking about the final end of his career. The rumor mill has been churning for a long time. “I’m not going back to Belgium. Not yet,” he revealed at least at the weekend.
There were already rumors in winter about Newcastle United from England or Juventus from Italy. The MLS could also become an issue for the midfield leader again.
Witsel’s greatest success in Germany is the DFB Cup victory in 2021 with BVB. He will leave Borussia after the season finale against Hertha BSC as a deserved but unfinished player.
Mats Yannick Roth