United States star Weston McKennie could be set for return to the Bundesliga to join Borussia Dortmund after his loan move to Leeds United ended in relegation.
The Juventus midfielder spent three years in Turin including a loan spell but his time with the Serie A giants looks to be coming to a close as they look to offload players this summer. The 24-year-old showed promise during periods of his stay at Allianz Stadium but he was unable to properly establish himself as a first-team regular.
A temporary switch to Elland Road yielded little success also, with the 44-time international unable to help the doomed Yorkshire club beat the drop. Brought in by countryman Jesse Marsch, he formed part of a contingent of American players at the club, alongside Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson but they were still relegated from the Premier League.
In all, McKennie appeared on 19 occasions in the Premier League during what was a testing period for the club as two managers oversaw the Leeds' demotion into the second tier following Marsch's sacking. First, Javi Gracia was relieved of his duties after 12 games in charge, before Sam Allardyce finally took the Whites down after failing to win any of his four matches in the hotseat.
It was a season to forget for McKennie, who failed to show the kind of form which supporters had been hoping to see upon his arrival in Yorkshire. Allardyce hooked the midfielder late on during the decisive 4-1 defeat versus Tottenham on the final day of the campaign, and he was booed off by angry fans.
Despite these woes on English soil, it appears that the Washington-born ace could be set to land on his feet with an appealing return to Germany, where he emerged through Schalke 04's academy. The midfield anchorman played some 91 times for the then-Bundesliga club before earning himself a move to the Old Lady back in 2020 following an initial loan.
According to ESPN, the former Die Knappen star could be set for what would be a controversial switch to arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund this summer. With the player having emerged as a talent in Gelsenkirchen, the prospect of him turning out for the club's old enemy from across the Ruhr Valley would probably ruffle some feathers despite being a good opportunity to reignite his career.
The two teams face off in the famously fierce 'Revier Derby' but will not play each other in the the Bundesliga next term after Schalke 04 was relegated to the second tier. In contrast, Dortmund finished second in the top division, painfully losing out on the title on the final day to Bayern Munich.
It is claimed the USMNT star is in talks over the potential switch which would also see him unite with compatriot Gio Reyna, as the club looks to go one better and win the league next term. He would come in as a replacement option, with the club having already lost Jude Bellingham, Mahmoud Dahoud and Raphael Guerreiro this summer.
McKennie would depart Serie A having made 65 appearances in all competitions, having won Coppa Italia in 2021 — which stands as the only major honour of his club career so far. The star has had more success at international level, though, winning the CONCACAF Nations League twice with the USMNT.
