Kjell Wätjen: A Complete Midfielder in the Making

If you are a young player trying to make it in the game nowadays, you could do a lot worse than to join the ranks of the Borussia Dortmund Academy. Having seen countless players go on to forge decent careers and some even going on to become household names, it is fair to say that the folks at Der BVB know what they’re doing when the bring in youth prospects.

If you are from the local area then you are even more likely to want to head to the Westfalenstadion, knowing what it means to the local people to play for the club.

That might well be exactly why Kjell Wätjen decided to join up with the Borussia Dortmund Academy as a youngster, given the fact that he is from the Ruhr area.

Although many players can make it at Der BVB, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland proving as much, there is something that little bit more special when it is a German player who is able to break through the ranks. Dortmund give players a route to the first team, which is why so many of them are willing to bide their time in the Academy to get there.

Who is Kjell Wätjen?

Kjell-Arik Wätjen was born in the North Rhine-Westphalia town of Gevelsberg on the 16th of February 2006. He was signed up to the youth system of FSV Gevelsberg in 2010 when he was just four-years-old, making his was through their Academy system over the following five years.

Throughout his time at the club, however, he had more than half an eye on joining Borussia Dortmund, having been a fan of the club since he was a youngster. He got his wish when he was nine-years-old, joining Der BVB in 2015.

Kjell-Arik Wätjen returning to his school after reaching the UEFA Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund. pic.twitter.com/e55IuhYfss

— Freakbob (@ZAHINborusse) May 8, 2024

In the years that followed, Wätjen developed his skills as a midfielder, playing ever position across the middle of the park as he looked to become a polished enough player to give the management team at the Westfalenstadion something to think about.

Although eligible to play for Sweden through his family, he began playing for Germany at the Under-16s level and then moved into the Under-17s. It was with the older age group, as well as some fellow Dortmund Academy players, that he won the European Under-17s Championship.

An Energetic Midfielder

When it comes to making it as a player with Borussia Dortmund, you need to have several things on your side. Although luck obviously plays its part, there are other aspects of a player’s ability that are much more important.

In the case of Wätjen, it is the fact that he has all of the attributes to make it at the very top of the sport. From an early age it was clear that he had the work rate necessary to push on, but other youngsters also have that without ever quite being good enough to become first team players.

@haduuuuuuuuyato #kjellwätjen #dortmund ♬ Gorgeous – Taylor Swift

Wätjen, though, is blessed with numerous things that make him stand out. A roaming playmaker with a decent body mass ratio his versatility is key to him being able to be selected regularly by whoever is the Dortmund manager.

The fact that he can play in different systems and roles in the midfield and boasts an excellent vision that is matched by top passing skills and superb technique means that his high football IQ is always on display. Most importantly in the eyes of the fans, he has a great work rate off the ball.

The ‘New Kroos’?

The reality of life in Germany is that Bayern Munich seem to win the Bundesliga every season. For that reason, it is impossible for supporters of a club like Borussia Dortmund to ignore those players that have been a success at the Allianz Arena, nor at Real Madrid considering the Spanish side defeated the Germans in two Champions League finals a decade apart.

With that in mind, it is high praise indeed for Wätjen that some have mentioned his name in the same breath as that of Toni Kroos.

Kjell Wätjen für mich der deutsche Toni Kroos.

— Jan Jasper Kosok (@jasperkosok.com) 4 May 2024 at 21:35

The German midfielder won three Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal doubles with Bayern, as well as a Champions League, before joining Real Madrid and adding five more Champions Leagues as well as four La Liga titles.

Although still very young, if Wätjen can go on to have even half of the career that Kroos managed then both Dortmund supporters and the player himself will look back at his achievements with wonder and amazement. He isn’t there yet, but if he continues on his current trajectory then he might be one day.