Borussia Dortmund confirmed on Friday that Marco Reus, a seasoned veteran who has spent 12 years with the club, will be departing at the end of the season. It was mutually decided that Reus’ contract would not be renewed, despite the 34-year-old expressing his desire to continue playing rather than retiring.
“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.”
Reus, who initially rose through Dortmund’s youth ranks before returning to the club following his breakthrough at Borussia Moenchengladbach, notably secured two German Cups during his tenure but fell short of clinching the Bundesliga title.
Last season marked a near miss, as Dortmund led the table heading into the final day, only to settle for a 2-2 draw against Mainz, allowing Bayern Munich to claim the title for the 11th consecutive time.
Despite Bayer Leverkusen’s breakthrough Bundesliga triumph, Reus won’t hoist the shield with his current team. However, Dortmund is on the cusp of Champions League glory, just two matches away from potential victory.
In Wednesday’s first semi-final clash at home against Paris Saint-Germain, Reus made a significant impact coming off the bench in a 1-0 triumph. The return leg is scheduled for next Tuesday in Paris, where a win or a draw would propel Dortmund to the final at Wembley. It’s a familiar venue for Reus, who participated in Dortmund’s previous final there, albeit ending in a 2-1 defeat against archrivals Bayern in 2013.
“We want to go to Wembley, we want to bring the trophy to Dortmund.
Over the span of 21 years, Reus has been an integral part of Dortmund’s fabric, assuming the captaincy from 2018 to 2023. A two-time recipient of the Germany Player of the Year award, he emerged as one of his generation’s premier attacking talents, though a cruel twist of fate sidelined him from potential World Cup glory in 2014.
With 48 appearances for Germany, Reus showcased his prowess by netting 15 goals for his national team.
Despite tempting offers from larger clubs, Reus remained loyal to Dortmund, reportedly rejecting several opportunities to depart. In a statement marking “the end of an extraordinary era,” BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke lauded Reus as “one of the club’s greatest players” and extended heartfelt wishes for his future endeavors.
