- Reached the UEFA Champions League final twice with Borussia Dortmund (in 2013 and 2024).
- Won the DFB Cup in 2017 and 2021; in the 2017 final, he set up a goal for a 2-1 win against Frankfurt but suffered a serious ligament injury.
- His performance in the 2021 final was outstanding, contributing crucial plays – he set up key goals in a 4-1 win over Leipzig.
- Scored 120 Bundesliga goals for Dortmund, with only Michael Zorc (131) and Manfred Burgsmüller (135) scoring more in the club’s history.
- Achieved a total of 170 competitive goals for Dortmund, a record surpassed only by club legend Adi Preißler.
- Named “Germany’s Footballer of the Year” in 2012 and 2019, and won the MLS in his first season at LA Galaxy in 2024.
Former BVB players with ties to the USA
Through the years, there have been a few players at Borussia Dortmund with a connection to the USA, either through their career or their background. Here we introduce these former Black & Yellow first team players.
Marco Reus
Marco Reus is a Dortmunder born and bred, and was the face of Borussia Dortmund for over a decade. The 36-year-old is now playing for LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer.
- Born on May 31, 1989 in Dortmund and joined the Borussia Dortmund youth academy at age 6, staying until he was 16.
- Was part of the U17 squad that reached the German Championship final in 2006, though he did not start in the match.
- Moved to Rot-Weiß Ahlen to gain more playing time, playing for the U19s, as well as in the third league and second Bundesliga, emerging as a key player.
- Transferred to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer of 2009, where he scored 41 goals in 109 games and provided 28 assists.
- Borussia Dortmund’s sports director Michael Zorc re-signed him for Dortmund in 2012, drawing on his deep connection with his hometown club.
- Played for Borussia Dortmund for twelve years (2012–2024).
- In mid-August 2024, transferred to LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer on a contract due to expire at the end of 2026.
- Made his debut for the German national team on October 7, 2011 and earned 48 caps, scoring 15 goals overall.
- His international career was consistently challenged by injuries, which even caused him to miss the 2014 World Cup despite being a key prospect.
- Played his last game for Germany on November 11, 2021, marking the end of an international career that oscillated between promise and injury setbacks.
Roman Bürki
Swiss player Roman Bürki (34) was goalkeeper for Borussia Dortmund from 2015-2022, and since then has been playing in the USA for St. Louis City. He was the first captain in the history of the club, and MLS “Goalkeeper of the Year”.
- Born on November 14, 1990 in Münsingen, a small town with 13,000 inhabitants.
- Left his hometown club just before turning 15 and began his professional journey with BSC Young Boys in 2007, located just a few kilometres from Bern.
- Was playing for Grasshopper Club Zürich when Freiburg signed him as a 23-year-old for the 2014/15 season.
- Transferred to Borussia Dortmund in 2015, succeeding long-standing goalkeeping icon Roman Weidenfeller.
- Held the undisputed number one spot as Dortmund’s goalkeeper for five and a half years until January 2021, before being replaced by countryman Marwin Hitz.
- Returned to critical form at the end of the 2020/21 season with flawless performances, including a standout display in the DFB Cup final, although he later found himself behind Gregor Kobel and Hitz in the pecking order.
- In July 2022, Bürki moved to the USA by transferring to St. Louis City and becoming the club’s first-ever captain.
- After a two-month break recovering from a broken hand, he reclaimed the number one spot.
- In his first season with St. Louis City, he was honored with the MLS “Goalkeeper of the Year” award.
- Won the Swiss Cup with Grasshopper Club Zürich in 2013.
- Secured DFB Cup victories with Borussia Dortmund in 2017 and 2021.
Represented the Swiss national team, earning nine caps between 2013 and 2018.
Christian Pulisic
Der US-Nationalspieler wurde bei Borussia Dortmund ausgebildet und spielte von 2016 bis 2019 bei den Profis. Seit 2023 steht der 26 Jahre alte Offensivspieler bei der AC Mailand in Italien unter Vertrag.
- Born on September 18, 1998 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
- His father, Mark, was an indoor football player in the USA and played a key role in his early football journey.
- Left the Pennsylvania Classics to join Borussia Dortmund at the age of 15.
- Won the German Championship as part of the Under-17 and Under-19 teams.
- Attended a winter training camp in Dubai during 2015/16 before being directly transferred to the first team squad.
- Made his Bundesliga debut on January 30, 2016 at the age of 17 years and 134 days, becoming the eighth-youngest player in Bundesliga history at the time.
- Played 127 matches for Borussia Dortmund across all competitions, contributing 19 goals and 26 assists (totaling 45 goal involvements).
- Transferred to English Premier League club Chelsea for the 2019/20 season, where he played 145 games, scoring 26 goals and providing 21 assists.
- Moved to AC Milan in 2023, where he has so far been involved in 55 goals (32 goals and 23 assists) in 99 games.
- Won the DFB Cup with Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
- Experienced a highly successful year in 2021 with Chelsea, winning the Champions League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
- Has represented the US national team since March 29, 2016.
- Became the youngest captain in the history of the US national team on November 20, 2018 at the age of 20 years, 2 months, and 2 days.
- By the end of May 2025, had made 78 appearances for the national team, scoring 32 goals and providing 20 assists.
Jovan Kirovski
Jovan Kirovski is a US football functionary who was part of the Borussia Dortmund first team from 1996-2000. The 49-year-old is now technical director at Milan Futuro, the second team of top Italian club AC Milan.
- Born on March 18, 1976 in Escondido, California.
- Transferred from the San Diego Nomads to English club Manchester United in 1992 at the age of 16.
- Started his career with Manchester United’s youth team and primarily played for the second team.
- Faced work permit issues under strict English laws; after a trial session, he joined Borussia Dortmund in 1996.
- Spent three years at Dortmund (with one season on loan to Fortuna Köln), making only 29 appearances and scoring one goal, never breaking into the starting eleven.
- Continued his eventful playing career with clubs such as Sporting CP, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City, LA Galaxy, Colorado Rapids, and the San Jose Earthquakes.
- Transitioned into coaching after retiring as a player, first joining LA Galaxy as co-coach and later serving as technical director; currently holds this role at Milan Futuro since 2024.
- Was part of the Borussia Dortmund squad that won the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup in 1997.
- Won the MLS title with Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011.
- Made 61 appearances for the US national team from 1994 to 2004, scoring eight goals.
- Represented the United States in the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, although the team was eliminated in the preliminary round.