Can Felix Nmecha turn his Borussia Dortmund career around?
By Brook Genene
At the end of the 2022/23 season, Borussia Dortmund were dealt with a huge blow as they lost the perfect opportunity to win the Bundesliga title after failing to defeat Mainz 05. One day after the game, there was also another blow as star midfielder Jude Bellingham bid his goodbyes to the club ahead of his move to Real Madrid.
Bellingham's exit left a huge gap in the Borussia Dortmund midfield. For a club that was accustomed to losing key players, this wasn’t a new occurrence. Even then, his replacement needed to be selected carefully.
Very quickly, Borussia Dortmund set their sights on signing Felix Nmecha from Wolfsburg. A signing that underwhelmed and disappointed many fans and created so much controversy.
One of the reasons for this was Nmecha’s social media posts that didn’t go well with many fans as they were labeled homophobic and transphobic. Another reason was the large sum of money BVB were willing to pay for a player who had yet to prove himself at the highest level.
The club's determination to pursue a move for Nmecha when better options were available further angered fans. Some even suggested that they would stop supporting the club or going to the stadium altogether.
Despite all the protests, Nmecha signed for BVB for a reported fee in excess of 30 million euros and was set to be the first-choice in Edin Terzic's side.