German clubs set to compete over Borussia Dortmund's Julian Hettwer

Borussia Dortmund could be on track to lose one of their top second-team players at the latest this summer, with Julian Hettwer’s contract coming to an end in 2025. So far, there have been no reports to indicate that Dortmund are looking to offer the player a contract extension. 

Hettwer has had a very good campaign this year so far, with the 21 year old scoring nine times and providing a further five assists across fourteen games. Predominately a winger by trade, Hettwer is able to play up front as a striker as well, making him a versatile player. 

According to reports from Kicker and Sky Sport, both Heidenheim and FC Köln are interested in Hettwer, with the clubs ready to make him a part of their first team set-up. Hettwer has yet to make any appearances for Dortmund’s first team in competitive play. 

Hettwer wouldn’t be the first former BVB II player to make it at another fellow Bundesliga side such as Heidenheim, with Jan-Niklas Beste playing a substantial role at the club over the course of the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. At Stuttgart, Chris Führich has also established himself as an important player, proving that there is a path for these players to have solid top-flight career.

With reported interest in other versatile, attack minded players, and with other academy players already at the club (such as Cole Campbell) starting to get minutes, it's seems unlikely at this time that Dortmund will look to focus on incorporating Hettwer into the first team. If we look at it from a financial perspective, with clear interest being shown in the player, it does look like yet another example of a player going on a free transfer instead of Dortmund collecting some sort of financial compensation. It also puts a damper on the pipeline between the first and second teams and considering his form will make other players question what it will take to make the jump.