Official | Giovanni Reyna moves to Racing Strasbourg | OneFootball

Borussia Mönchengladbach have officially confirmed Giovanni Reyna’s transfer to Ligue 1 outfit Racing Strasbourg. The 23-year-old United States international leaves the Bundesliga after signing a contract with the French club through 2031.

Strasbourg will reportedly pay Gladbach a guaranteed €3m fee. Bonuses could increase the total package to €4m, while die Fohlen have also secured a ten-percent share of any future transfer fee.

The structure of the deal gives Gladbach an opportunity to recoup most or all of their original investment. Kicker reports that the Bundesliga club paid Borussia Dortmund approximately €3.3m for Reyna last summer. Other reports placed the original fee closer to €4m.

As previously reported, Reyna remained behind in Germany when Gladbach travelled to their Tegernsee training camp. The attacking midfielder had recently returned from the World Cup and was permitted to hold talks with Strasbourg before completing the transfer.

Reyna spent only one season at Borussia-Park. Injuries and intense competition for attacking places prevented the former Dortmund prospect from establishing himself as a regular starter under Eugen Polanski.

The technically gifted midfielder made 19 Bundesliga appearances for Gladbach, but started only four league fixtures. He scored once and supplied one assist. Across all competitions, Reyna featured 20 times, made five starts and accumulated only 577 minutes.

Strasbourg offer Reyna another fresh start

Reyna now joins a Strasbourg side that finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season and reached the Conference League semi-finals. New head coach Hugo Oliveira will be tasked with helping the American revive a career repeatedly disrupted by physical setbacks.

The French club required another creative option following Valentín Barco’s €40m move to partner club Chelsea. Reyna can operate as a number ten, on either wing or as one of two advanced midfielders. He is expected to compete primarily with Julio Enciso for playing time in central attacking areas.

Regular football will be Reyna’s foremost priority. His one-year spell in Gladbach represented the latest unsuccessful attempt to rediscover the form that once made him one of the Bundesliga’s most highly regarded young players.

Reyna made his Dortmund senior debut in January 2020 at the age of 17. Only five players in the club’s history had made their first-team debuts at a younger age. His early performances led to an estimated market value of €42m in October 2021.

Persistent injuries subsequently interrupted his development. Reyna has reportedly missed 94 matches through injury since the beginning of the 2021/22 season. His market value stood at €7m when he joined Gladbach last summer and has since fallen to €4m.

A loan to Nottingham Forest during the second half of the 2023/24 season also failed to deliver the intended career revival. Reyna made only nine Premier League appearances before returning to Dortmund. He then endured another difficult season with his parent club before moving to Gladbach.

The midfielder nevertheless retains considerable international experience. Reyna represented the United States in all five of their matches at the home World Cup, although four of those appearances came from the bench. He scored once during the tournament.

Reyna departs German football having made 125 Bundesliga appearances and scored 16 league goals for Dortmund and Gladbach. Strasbourg now provide him with his first opportunity to play in France’s top flight and another chance to demonstrate the technical ability that once marked him out as one of the United States’ leading prospects.

Rouven Schröder on Giovanni Reyna’s departure

“Gio is an excellent player who unfortunately only hinted at his potential during his year here at Borussia and, due to several injuries, was unable to display his abilities consistently on the pitch,” Gladbach sporting director Rouven Schröder said.

“We clearly stated that we wanted and needed to change and reduce the size of the squad. We therefore came to the joint conclusion that separating this summer was the correct step for both sides.

“We wish him all the best and every success with his exciting new challenge in France.”

GGFN | Peter Weis