Ryerson on record pace: BVB star draws level with Beckenbauer | OneFootball

After an outstanding season, Julian Ryerson is on the verge of making Bundesliga history at BVB. The defender has already drawn level with Bayern legend Franz Beckenbauer and is now chasing the assist record.

Julian Ryerson is enjoying an exceptional season at Borussia Dortmund — and on a position not usually known for spectacular attacking numbers, at that. The Norwegian right-back has put himself in the spotlight with his Bundesliga performances and is on the brink of making history.

With 13 assists so far, Ryerson is not only among the league’s best providers, but has also already reached a special milestone: in the list of defenders with the most assists in a Bundesliga season, he has drawn level with greats such as Franz Beckenbauer. The BVB star needs just two more assists to equal the record, and three to break it outright. With three games remaining, that seems entirely realistic.

What is particularly remarkable is the 28-year-old’s development. Last season, Ryerson managed only four assists — now he has more than tripled that figure. The Norwegian has become a real weapon, especially from set pieces. A large share of his assists has come from dead-ball situations (8), where he regularly poses a threat.

Clear message from BVB: Ryerson must stay

Ryerson is also right at the top in league-wide comparison. Only Michael Olise has more assists (18), while the Dortmund man shares second place with Bayern star Luis Díaz. Even by international standards, he is among the best: among defenders in Europe’s top leagues, only Federico Dimarco (18) is ahead of him.

Photo: IMAGO

Alongside his assist numbers, his enormous activity levels stand out above all. Hardly any other player delivers as many crosses (139) or plays as many crosses and passes (241) into the penalty area as Ryerson. This attacking presence is extraordinary for a defensive player and makes him a key factor in Dortmund’s game.

His strong performances have not gone unnoticed internally either. Managing director Lars Ricken made it clear in a WAZ interview at the beginning of March, how important the Norwegian is to the club: “Julian is an absolute key player, a mentality monster who also makes our set pieces incredibly dangerous with his quality. We have no intention whatsoever of letting him go.”

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