Hummels' return to BVB: Is it really possible to get to Dortmund on foot?

Hummels' return to BVB: Is it really possible to get to Dortmund on foot?

On April 12, 2025, the rumor of Mats Hummels returning to Borussia Dortmund seems to be gaining momentum. The 36-year-old footballer, who ended his career last summer, could possibly soon wear the BVB jersey again. The reason for the considerations is the team's bad luck with injuries, as Nico Schlotterbeck is expected to be out for six months.

Interest in Hummels has been fueled primarily by the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in the USA from June 14 to July 13, 2025. Borussia Dortmund will face well-known opponents such as Fluminense from Brazil, Ulsan HD from Japan and Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa. Hummels could help as a backup team member in this tournament and this return would give him the opportunity to extend his career by a few weeks. Hummels would reportedly be so keen on the idea that he would travel "on foot from Rome to Dortmund" to play for BVB, as his contract with AS Roma expires in June and the club is not taking part in the competition. Krone.at reports that Borussia Dortmund urgently needs reinforcements in central defense due to the injury situation.

Coach Niko Kovac comments

Coach Niko Kovac commented on the rumors surrounding Hummels during a press conference and shared his assessment of the situation. He describes Hummels as an “extraordinarily good footballer” whose contribution to BVB is of great importance. Kovac emphasizes that despite difficult decisions regarding playing time, he maintains a good relationship with Hummels. That could potentially have a positive impact on the defender's return. FootballEurope.com reports that negotiations and planning in this context may already be underway.

The context of transfers in football

To better understand the scope of Hummels' possible return, it is also interesting to take a look at the current state of the international transfer market. FIFA recently published its Global Transfer Report 2022, documenting record numbers of 71,002 cross-border transfers. There were 20,209 international transfers in men's professional football in 2022, an increase of 11.6% compared to 2021. FIFA.com shows that the market has recovered above average from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to create a dynamic environment.

The possibility that Hummels could return is therefore not only in the light of his personal career, but also as part of the overall dynamic and developing transfer market in football. The coming weeks will show whether the negotiations will actually lead to a return.