Marco Reus To Leave Borussia Dortmund At End Of Season

Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund’s senior footballer and captain, will leave the club after 12 years as an adult and 9 years as a junior player at the end of the season, the club announced on Friday, May 3, 2024.

Both parties decided that Reus’ contract would not be extended, despite the 34-year-old’s desire to continue playing and his refusal to retire.

Reus has spent 21 years with Dortmund and was captain from 2018 to 2023. The two-time Germany player of the year was one of the best-attacking talents of his generation, but injuries denied him a shot at a World Cup triumph in 2014.

He played 48 games for Germany and scored 15 goals.

“I’ve dedicated half my life to this club, experienced a lot of ups and downs, but more ups I think,” the Dortmund-born Reus said in a video message.

“The club and I came to the decision not to extend the contract. It made me incredibly proud, I’m incredibly grateful to have played for this club for so many years.”

Marco Reus, who came up through Dortmund’s youth system before returning after breaking through at neighbouring Borussia Moenchengladbach, won two German Cups with the club but never won the Bundesliga title.

The striker came closest last season when Dortmund led the table going into the final day, but a 2-2 home draw against Mainz saw Bayern Munich win the title for the 11th time in a row.

While Bayer Leverkusen’s breakthrough Bundesliga victory means Reus will not be lifting the shield with the club, Dortmund is two games away from winning the Champions League.

Reus came off the bench in Wednesday’s 1-0 home triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the first semi-final, with the return leg scheduled for next Tuesday.

A win or draw in Paris will advance the team to the final at Wembley Stadium, where Reus previously featured in Dortmund’s 2-1 loss to rivals Bayern in 2013.

“We want to go to Wembley, we want to bring the trophy to Dortmund.

“That’s why it’s simply important that the decision has been made and that the issue is then over. And that we all concentrate on this big goal.”

Reus reportedly turned down several offers from larger teams in order to stay at Dortmund.

In a statement issued by the club calling the news “the end of an extraordinary era,” BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke praised Reus as “one of the club’s greatest players” and wished him “all the best for his future.

“We very much hope that he will return to BVB after his professional career because there are plenty of exciting tasks waiting for him here in Dortmund.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli