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Julian Brandt believes he can achieve “something big” with Borussia Dortmund after ignoring interest from elsewhere to sign a new three-year contract.
The Germany international has shone in his attacking midfield role for BVB this term, playing a huge role in a title challenge that could go to the wire.
Brandt, who turns 27 in May, signed his latest contract on Tuesday, quashing the prospect of him being able to leave on a free transfer at the end of next season.
Liverpool and Arsenal are among the teams who have been linked with Brandt in recent weeks, and that comes as little surprise considering his strong campaign.
Only three midfielders in the Bundesliga have created more chances this season that Brandt’s 57, which puts him 30 ahead of his nearest midfield club colleague, Jude Bellingham (27).
Brandt has eight goals and four assists in the league, with his 12 goal involvements also setting the benchmark for Dortmund’s midfielders, putting him two ahead of Marco Reus and four clear of Bellingham.
He has played 164 passes, including crosses, into the opposition box, far and away the most of any Dortmund player, with his threat from the flanks making him a valuable asset.
Considering he has played 931 passes in all, more than one in six of those on average have gone into the penalty area (18 per cent).
With uncertainty lingering over Bellingham’s future, as clubs look closely at the England international, Dortmund made sure to tie up former Bayer Leverkusen star Brandt to new terms.
Brandt said: “Even after four years, I still have a lot of fun every single day being part of precisely this team, being on the pitch with these lads and playing football for this highly emotional club with its extraordinary fans.
“In honesty, the feeling of being in the right place at the right time has always been the most important point of my sporting life. And that won’t change either. I’m looking forward to the coming years in black and yellow and I’m sure that we’ll have the opportunity to celebrate something big together.”
Dortmund announced the extension on their website, describing it as “a core element of the medium-term squad planning”, with sporting director Sebastian Kehl saying Brandt has “undergone another enormous development in the last year, is significantly more focused in his play off the ball, regularly sets up goals and shines himself as a goalscorer”.
