Borussia Dortmund squad depth for 2022/2023: Forwards

Donyell Malen

Malen is coming off of a rather disappointing 2021/2022 season under Marco Rose.  The player was brought in a year ago as the Jadon Sancho replacement, but Malen seemed to have underachieved last season with only nine goals and six assists across 38 appearances for BVB.

So far this campaign, Edin Terzic has chosen to play Donyell Malen as a left winger in his 4-2-3-1 formation, which has seen Malen put good use to his fast pace and ball skills.  Unfortunately, however, Malen picked up an injury while training in late August that has caused him to miss some action.

The Dutch attacker will look to prove that the steep transfer fee paid for him was well worth it as he looks to recapture his sensational form he had at PSV Eindhoven during the 2020/2021 season that saw him score 27 goals and add 10 assists in 45 appearances.  Malen should be a crucial first-teamer when he does come back to full fitness.

Karim Adeyemi

Borussia Dortmund continued their year-after-year trend of purchasing young players bursting with talent and potential again this summer by snagging the signature of Karim Adeyemi from RB Salzburg.  The twenty-year old signed for a hefty fee of thirty million euros after his breakout season that saw him score 23 goals and add another nine assists in 44 appearances for Salzburg last season.

Adeyemi unfortunately injured his right foot during the Bundesliga opener against Bayer Leverkusen, but he has begun to be reincorporated into the squad after a couple of weeks off.  The injury was quite a scare for BVB fans, but it doesn’t appear to be one that will affect Adeyemi long-term.

Terzic has chosen to deploy Adeyemi opposite Malen as a right winger while allowing for both to drift inside so the fullbacks can push up and join the attack.  The lifelong BVB fan has a great deal of pace and finishing ability that will be a vital piece to the Dortmund squad.  Much like Malen, there will be a lot of pressure on Adeyemi to live up to his potential and his price tag.

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens

Bynoe-Gittens is yet another of the seemingly never-ending stable of young talent that Borussia Dortmund have at their disposal.  Fresh off of a contract extension signed in the middle of August, the eighteen-year-old Englishman is already proving to be a very special talent that can turn the tide of games with his quick feet and ball skills, not unlike another young Englishmen who recently played for die Schwarzgelben in Jadon Sancho.

Given Terzic’s propensity to give young talent the opportunity to play quality first-team minutes, Bynoe-Gittens should be in line to get plenty of experience this year and the chances to show simply how valuable he can be in the attack for BVB.

Thorgan Hazard

Thorgan Hazard is entering into his fourth season for Borussia Dortmund, and it’s safe to say that his time for the Black and Yellows has been rather disappointing.  Hazard has battled numerous injuries and has never really taken the chance to cement himself in the starting XI or as a crucial player for Dortmund.

With the addition of several young attacking players this summer and the emergence of others such as Bynoe-Gittens, Hazard will have his work cut out for him to earn playing time this season.  With reports coming out this summer that BVB were willing to part ways with Hazard, time seems to be short for Hazard to make his case to Terzic and the board.  However, Hazard does provide a level of depth and experience to the squad that might prove invaluable during the tougher stretches of the season.