How Important Will Julian Ryerson be to Der BVB in the Coming Years?

In the world of football, there are certain positions that every knows are important. If, for example, you’ve got a striker who can put the ball in the back of the net then you’ve got a really good chance of winning matches. If you can pair that with a solid defence thanks to a leading centre-back or a goalkeeper who knows how to make top-class saves, you’re even more likely to win.

One of the positions that often gets overlooked but is important because of how few genuinely world-class talents there are is full-back. In Julian Ryerson, Borussia Dortmund have a genuinely excellent player, so how important might he be to the club’s future?

Who is Julian Ryerson?

Having recent turned 27, Julian Ryerson is no longer a young player. In fact, there is an argument that he is entering the prime of his career, with the Norwegian player being the ideal age for a footballer who works in the defensive third of the pitch. Born on the 17th of November 1997 in the Norwegian municipality of Lyngdal, he joined his local club, Lygndal IL, as a youngster.

In 2013 he moved to Viking, getting his breakthrough three years later when he played 18 league games as a right-back for the first-team. By the time he left Viking he had made 63 senior league appearances and scored seven goals.

He won’t get the headlines, but I thought Julian Ryerson did a fantastic job against both Mbappé and Vinícius. For just €5m, BVB have found a brilliant, hard-working right back. pic.twitter.com/rvDoON6gJR

— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) June 1, 2024

That was enough to capture the attention of the German side Union Berlin, with the 2. Bundesliga team signing him up to a three-year deal. When Union were promoted to the top-flight, Ryerson earned a name for himself when he scored in a 5-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, with many in Germany sitting up and taking notice. A month later and he netted his first European goal, getting the only one of the game in a 1-0 win over Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League.

In the January of 2023, Borussia Dortmund felt that they had seen enough, signing him up on a three-year deal to replace the injured Thomas Meunier in Der BVB’s defence.

Why People Love Him

Fans of Premier League football will be aware of how Andy Robertson was signed by Liverpool from relegated Hull City, with many thinking that the Scottish international was going to be a squad player. Instead, his industry, work-rate and ability meant that he became the club’s first-choice right-back, winning the Champions League, Premier League and more. That is the perfect comparison for Ryerson, who can play in either full-back position and quickly became known as ‘Mr. Reliable‘ by the club’s supporters.

His ability to put in a decent ball as well as his defensive capabilities are why he is regularly picked for the team.

https://www.tiktok.com/@bvb_gittens/video/7396598666724642080

He was far from a regular in the 2022-2023 campaign, but his 17 appearances and the goal that he scored were part of the reason why Die Borussen came so close to winning the Bundesliga title. Although injuries caused him to take something of a backseat in the following season, he still made 21 league appearances and got four goals, as well as appearing in ten of the club’s 13 Champions League games on the way to the final against Real Madrid.

In the October of 2024, Ryerson was offered a new contract at the club, which he signed, committing his future to Die Schwarzgelben until until 2028, offering an option in both wingback positions.

Will he Stay at BVB?

The obvious question to ask is whether he will stay at Borussia Dortmund for the remainder of his contract. Whilst he’s only just signed it, thereby making a decision to leave unlikely, it wouldn’t be the first time that a player has left BVB for pastures new. When he signed his contract extension he said,

“I’m still proud and humbled to be part of this club. And now I’m very happy that I can continue to play for Borussia Dortmund. I feel at home here and enjoy every match day – especially when we play at home. That’s why I’m at BVB, and I want to have this feeling for as long as possible”, which certainly suggests he’s going nowhere.

https://bsky.app/profile/centralfabriziorom.bsky.social/post/3l5mgj2jhol2h

The problem is that a versatile full-back is a much sought after position, with Ryerson’s performances at the Westfalenstadion being more than enough to capture the attention of some big clubs. Might Rúben Amorim be tempted to try to sign him for Manchester United, for example? He would unquestionably improve upon what they’ve got there and the Red Devils aren’t shy of overpaying to get the players that they want.

The aforementioned Robertson at Liverpool is getting older, so bringing in a player in their prime who can also cover right-back might be just what Arne Slot wants. If Dortmund are serious about challenging for the title again, keeping Ryerson might be crucial to their long-term ambitions.