Julian Brandt’s Dortmund Renaissance: From Fringe to Fulcrum – Why a Contract Extension Once Ruled Out Is Suddenly Back on the Table
For months, it seemed Julian Brandt’s Borussia Dortmund career was entering its final chapter. With his lucrative contract set to expire next summer, the club’s hierarchy were reportedly prepared to cut ties, eager to free up salary space and reshape the squad. Yet, football has a way of rewriting scripts – and Brandt, with his blend of guile and experience, is penning a fresh one.
According to Bild, Dortmund are no longer shutting the door on a contract extension. Instead, the midfielder’s recent resurgence has reopened conversations about his value to Niko Kovac’s side. For a player once seen as surplus, the turnaround is striking.
Last weekend offered the perfect snapshot of this revival. Drafted into the starting XI against Mainz at the last moment – only after Serhou Guirassy pulled out with a knock – Brandt seized his chance in emphatic fashion. The 29-year-old pulled the strings from midfield, delivering two assists in a comfortable 2-0 win. It was a reminder of the creativity and calmness that first made him one of Germany’s most coveted prospects.
Kovac, a long-time admirer, is said to be pushing strongly for Dortmund to reconsider Brandt’s future. His faith is paying off: in an evolving team, Brandt provides balance, technical precision, and leadership, qualities not easily replaced.
Still, questions linger. With his deal expiring in 2026, Brandt is already free to negotiate a summer switch abroad. Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly circling, sensing an opportunity to land a proven Bundesliga performer on a free transfer. Dortmund, then, are walking a tightrope – delay too long, and they risk losing him without compensation.
For Brandt, the equation seems simpler. “I’m happy things are going so well, that we’re playing so well,” he said recently, striking a calm and measured tone. “Everything else will be decided when the time comes.”
That time, however, may come sooner than expected. Dortmund face a defining stretch of fixtures, both domestically and in Europe. If Brandt continues to shine, the conversation could shift from whether to extend his deal to how quickly the club can get it signed.
Once a fading star, Brandt now looks like the creative heartbeat Dortmund cannot afford to lose.
