Tom Rother speaks out on Borussia Dortmund exit

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·21 de fevereiro de 2025

Tom Rother speaks out on Borussia Dortmund exit

If there’s one promising Borussia Dortmund youngster many fans were sad to see leave last summer, it’s Tom Rothe. The twenty-year-old was seen as an exciting young talent who could add to Dortmund’s depth, especially in the tricky position of left-back. However, now it seems the Black-and-Yellows tried to keep the young German but ultimately failed because they could not guarantee the minutes a young, up-and-coming player like Rothe commands despite him being a product of Dortmund’s youth academy. Recently, Rothe opened up on the exit:

"I always had it in my mind: I am a young player, and I need to play - not just occasionally, but consistently. That is the only way to develop. I saw a better opportunity for myself here in Berlin compared to Dortmund because, of course, there are different players with different qualities in their squad. The conversation with him (Manager Bo Svensson) was crucial. He explained to me that I would have a great chance of getting playing time in a Union jersey. That conversation really sparked something in me, and that is when I made my decision. And I have not regretted it since. "Tom Rothe

Since joining Union Berlin, Tom Rothe has made sixteen league appearances, twelve of those as part of Union’s starting eleven. He’s managed two goals and two assists in his 1050 minutes played. He also spoke on the Dortmund's side of his departure to Union:

Vídeos OneFootball

"It was definitely not the club’s wish for me to leave. They tried to keep me. But in the end, we found a good solution. I cannot do much about that except perform well on the pitch. It is up to me to deliver strong performances, and then we’ll see what happens in the future. I never say never. I am just focused on improving every day, and right now, Union is exactly the right place for me."Tom Rother

The comments from Rothe make sense. As we’ve seen with Dortmund this season, the young players have not been given many opportunities, nor have they been put in positions to succeed. Rothe’s desire to leave and seek first-team minutes is about the best decision he could have made for his personal development.

However, Tom Rother's Union Berlin contract includes a buy-back clause that could be activated next summer, giving Borussia Dortmund the opportunity to retain the young German. Will we ever see Tom Rothe in a Dortmund kit again, or will he spend his career succeeding with other clubs?