Kick-off in Brackel: BVB U23 begin pre-season | OneFootball

Year two after relegation from the 3. Liga. Borussia Dortmund’s U23 began preparations for the new Regionalliga West season on Monday (June 22) with numerous new signings.

Last season got off to a turbulent start. Mike Tullberg moved from the U19 to BVB’s second team and took charge of the reserve side in the summer of 2025. But after six matches with an even record, the Dane received a call from home. FC Midtjylland from the Superliga signed the successful youth coach, who had led the Black and Yellows’ U19 to the German championship in 2022. It proved worthwhile: just a few weeks ago, Tullberg celebrated winning the national cup with the Wolves.

The club appointed Daniel Ríos (46), previously Tullberg’s assistant, as his successor on the Borussia Dortmund U23 touchline. He guided BVB’s reserve side to fifth place in 2025/26 – twelve points behind champions and promoted side Fortuna Köln.

There are still just over five weeks to go until the new season begins. Kick-off is on July 31. Who the Black and Yellows’ second team will face in the opener has not yet been decided. But preparations have already begun. Before the actual start of training, however, the players completed medical checks and performance diagnostics in groups under the supervision of the club’s doctors and sports scientists. Monday then featured the obligatory lactate test.

Lion with vast experience

Jesper Verlaat is likely the most high-profile new signing. The 30-year-old centre-back arrived in the Ruhr region from relegated TSV 1860 Munich. With his experience of 32 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga and 239 matches in the 3. Liga, the Dutchman is expected to lead the young team. “I’m looking forward to the role with so many young players, I want to lead by example with my performances and be someone the lads can turn to. Now it’s important that we come together quickly as a group,” the veteran explained of his task.

Photo: IMAGO

Goalkeeper Aaron Held is joining the team from the club’s own U19 side. The 18-year-old admits he can feel the transition to senior football: “The biggest difference is of course the age structure – and as a goalkeeper you have to be even tougher because the opposing players are more physically developed. But the lads have given me a great welcome.”

The first friendly is scheduled for Saturday (June 27). BVB’s U23 will then face an amateur select side at Stadion Schwansbell in Lünen. But before the ball gets rolling for the first time, the focus in the coming days will be on the work on the training ground.

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