"He helps me a lot": This BVB teammate is especially valued by Chukwuemeka | OneFootball

A new country, a new club, new colleagues. Even for professional footballers, getting used to a new workplace isn’t always easy. It’s good when a teammate is there to lend a helping hand—just like in the case of Carney Chukwuemeka (22).

Before his transfer to Borussia Dortmund in February 2025, Chukwuemeka had never played for a club abroad. Especially at the start of his time at BVB, the midfielder struggled with minor injuries. So, his start wasn’t always smooth.

The young Englishman is still waiting for his first full 90-minute appearance for the Black and Yellows. However, his season record of 16 games, in which he scored twice and assisted one goal, is certainly respectable.

After his six-month loan spell in the second half of last season, BVB signed Chukwuemeka on a permanent basis last summer. Chelsea FC received a transfer fee of 20 million euros. “It feels really good to now be a permanent part of BVB,” he said after signing a five-year contract.

The ideal Santa Claus

The fact that the 22-year-old feels at home in Dortmund is also thanks to one of his teammates: Niklas Süle. “It might not look like it, but he helps me a lot,” Chukwuemeka emphasized in the club’s own YouTube format “Erstma ’n Käffken”. The experienced 30-year-old central defender is a great support for him, says the Black and Yellows’ midfielder. “Obviously, he’s been in the business for a while. He’s just someone who always makes me smile,” Ruhr24 quotes him as saying.

Chukwuemeka has also assigned Süle a special role. The defensive giant would be the ideal Santa Claus in the BVB squad, the Englishman says with a grin. The veteran can also look forward to a little surprise for the holidays. When asked who he would most like to give a present to in Secret Santa, he answers clearly: “I’d say Niki.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.