Captain Marco Reus has extended his contract with Borussia Dortmund, which expires at the end of the season. The new contract of the 33-year-old veteran runs until 2024, as BVB announced on Thursday. According to reports, the national player has to accept heavy financial losses.
“Right now, as a team, like all our fans, we have a big goal in mind that everyone is concentrating on: we want to become German champions, and we need every single Borussia player to do that,” said Reus. “But even beyond that, I still have a great desire to do my best for the club, where I’ve spent more than half my life. For me there is still nothing better than scoring goals in front of the best fans in the world and in the most beautiful stadium in the world and celebrating victories together.”
According to information from BILD, the salary of the current top earner, which should be around twelve million euros, will be reduced for the extension of the contract. The BVB captain, who has been wearing the bandage since 2018, should be able to earn seven million euros in the coming season with bonuses at best.
With the new contract, Reus also accepts a new role. Under coach Edin Terzic he is no longer an undisputed regular player. Newcomers to the season such as Julian Brandt, who also recently extended his contract and was tied until 2026, have overtaken him in the starting XI. The sporting situation is said to have played a major role in the negotiations.
Reus had repeatedly emphasized in the past few weeks that he wanted to end his career with his home club and thus contradicted speculation about a change of club. At the beginning of the year there were reports of an alleged interest from Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), where Cristiano Ronaldo is under contract.
The Dortmund offensive all-rounder has enjoyed cult status with many BVB fans for years, but was recently criticized. He had disappointed in the Bundesliga summit at Bayern Munich (2: 4) and in the DFB Cup at RB Leipzig (0: 2). In the last three games against 1. FC Union Berlin (2-1), in Stuttgart (3-3) and against Frankfurt (4-0), he was initially on the bench.
Reus was born in Dortmund and played for BVB from 1995 to 2005 when he was young. After stints at Rot Weiss Ahlen and Borussia Mönchengladbach, he returned in 2012 and has played continuously for Borussia ever since. In 2017 and 2021 he won the DFB Cup. He has scored eight competitive goals this season.