Borussia Dortmund's new loan signing Carney Chukwuemeka made an immediate impact in his debut appearance, earning high praise from head coach Niko Kovac following the team's commanding 6-0 victory over Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
The 21-year-old Chelsea loanee, who joined during the winter transfer window, was introduced as a 70th-minute substitute for Gio Reyna at the Westfalenstadion. His arrival coincided with an explosive final 15 minutes that saw Dortmund score four times, contributing to their most significant victory since May 2023.
Kovac was particularly effusive in his assessment of Chukwuemeka's performance, describing it as "sensationally good." The head coach highlighted the young midfielder's unique qualities, specifically praising his ball control, quick turning ability, and forward progression. "We saw what skills he has and the way he takes possession of the ball and how quickly he turns and carries forward. That's really unique. He has really good acceleration and technique. He'll bring us joy if he stays healthy," Kovac remarked.
The England Under-20 international nearly made an immediate offensive contribution, threading a precise pass that led to Karim Adeyemi striking the post. Later, with Dortmund already three goals ahead, Chukwuemeka's impressive turn and drive through midfield created the opportunity for Serhou Guirassy to score the team's fourth goal, converting from Maximiliar Beier's cross.
Speaking in the mixed zone after the match, Chukwuemeka expressed his enthusiasm about the experience: "I loved playing in front of 80,000 fans. I just wanted to play my game and help the team. We played really directly and precisely in the final third. Hopefully we can build on this performance."
While Chukwuemeka's loan arrangement extends until the summer, Dortmund holds an option to make the transfer permanent. Sebastian Kehl, Dortmund's sporting director, offered a measured but positive assessment, acknowledging the player's lack of recent game time while praising his evident qualities: "He obviously lacks a bit of rhythm because he hasn't played for a long time. But you could see in one or two situations today that he is a player who is a lot of fun, who has good timing, who moves well between the lines and has good control."
The victory marked a crucial turning point for Dortmund, representing their first league win under Kovac and their first Bundesliga success since February 1st, when they defeated Heidenheim 2-1. The result lifted the struggling side to 10th place in the Bundesliga standings.
Looking ahead, Dortmund face St Pauli in Hamburg on Saturday before hosting Lille in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie the following Tuesday. Chukwuemeka's impressive debut has provided a timely boost as the team approaches these critical fixtures.
