Speaking to German broadcaster DAZN prior to kickoff in Saturday afternoon’s Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro flatly stated that he would love to see Julian Brandt return his former club. Brandt left Leverkusen to join Borussia Dortmund on a €25m transfer ahead of the 2019/20 Bundesliga campaign. Last week, it was revealed that Dortmund will not renew the now 29-year-old’s expiring contract.
Precisely where the 48-times-capped German international wishes to continue his career remains to be seen. Rumors linking the Bremen-native with moves abroad (to Arsenal and Barcelona) cropped up this week. The versatile attacker may be tempted to move abroad for the first time in his career. He could also nevertheless be tempted to return to the German club that launched his professional journey.
When Brandt moved to Lucien Favre’s Dortmund, he was a €50m-valued player who appeared to be Germany’s next top talent. Already capped 23-times at senior level, some eye-catching moments during the disappointing 2018 World Cup left most Germans convinced Brandt’s stock would do nothing but rise.
Instead, Brandt drifted in and out of the German national team. Brandt has only been capped 25 times in the seven years since. His estimated market value has fluctuated widely, steadily declined from his €50m peak in 2019 to a nadir of €20m in August of 2021.
Brandt managed to regain his form and raise his value back up to €40m in 2023 and 2024. Over the last two years, however, he’s fallen back down to the €20m level in the Transfermarkt listings.
Brandt missed out on the 2024 German-hosted Euros and only claimed one trophy (the 2021 DFB Pokal) during his time with BVB. It surely hurt the former Leverkusen prodigy to watch his former club claim the 2023/24 Bundesliga title under Xabi Alonso.
“I think Julian Brandt is sensational,” Carro – echoing the sentiment of most Bundesliga journalists and fans – told DAZN. “If [B04 sporting director] Simon [Rolfes] wants him, I’d be supportive if that.“
