Gio Reyna's disappointing Champions League cameo against Sporting Club on Wednesday, where he struck the post with his first touch, epitomizes his current predicament at Borussia Dortmund. With the American midfielder approaching the final year of his contract, a summer departure appears increasingly likely for the once-promising youngster.
The 22-year-old's trajectory at Dortmund has taken a concerning turn. Since joining the club as a 17-year-old in 2019, Reyna's career has been marked by unfulfilled potential. Despite setting records as the youngest player to reach 50 Bundesliga appearances at 18 years and 14 days, his development has stalled significantly.
The numbers paint a stark picture of his diminishing role. Reyna has managed just 369 minutes of club football in the 2024-25 season, with only 12 Bundesliga starts since 2021. His versatility, while impressive, has perhaps worked against him - this season alone, he has been deployed in eight different positions during his limited 178 Bundesliga minutes.
Multiple factors have contributed to this stagnation. A series of muscle injuries has hampered his availability, while off-field issues, including a public dispute with USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter during the 2022 World Cup, resulted in an 11-month absence from the national team. The revolving door of managers at Dortmund - five head coaches in five years - hasn't helped his cause either.
Even under new manager Niko Kovac, Reyna remains on the periphery, unable to displace Julian Brandt in attacking midfield or challenge the likes of Jamie Gittens and Karim Adeyemi for wing positions. The arrival of Chelsea loanee Carney Chukwuemeka further crowds his path to regular playing time.
Dortmund's sporting director Sebastian Kehl acknowledged Reyna's "incredible abilities" earlier this season, stating that the player "has to accept his role, free himself from it." However, with the club approaching an expensive squad rebuild and unwilling to lose him for free in 2026, they are now open to reasonable offers - reportedly in the region of €20m ($20.8m).
A previous loan spell at Nottingham Forest failed to reignite his career, and despite Dortmund's encouraging assessment of his summer preparation and attitude, Reyna has started just three matches this season. While the club hasn't completely given up on his potential, there's a growing acceptance that both parties might be better served by parting ways, marking the end of a partnership that promised much but delivered sporadically.
At 22, time remains on Reyna's side to fulfill his considerable potential. However, it seems increasingly likely that this journey will continue away from the Signal Iduna Park, as both club and player appear to be stuttering towards an inevitable summer separation.
