Zelalem to Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund are in talks with Arsenal over a deal for Gedion Zelalem. The Germany-born 19-year-old, who has declared for the United States at international level, was considered to be a future first-team star at Arsenal.

When Arsène Wenger saw Zelalem play for the first time when the midfielder was 14, he told the boy’s father that he would one day play for Arsenal. That has been proved correct, with Zelalem making his debut for the club two days before his 17th birthday in January 2014.


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But he has not made the progress that was hoped for. Zelalem played once for Wenger’s team in the 2014-15 season while he has appeared on two further occasions this time out in the EFL Cup. He spent the whole of last season on loan at Glasgow Rangers.

Dortmund are hopeful that they can tempt him back to Germany, where he lived until the age of nine, before he emigrated with his family to the United States. They are aware that Zelalem is now at the stage of his career where he needs to be playing regular football; he turns 20 later this month. His situation at Arsenal is a source of frustration but it also illustrates how difficult it is for a young player to make the step from academy prospect to first-team fixture.

The negotiations with Dortmund are not thought to be advanced and, if a deal cannot be struck in January, the Bundesliga club would be open to trying again in the summer. Zelalem has two-and-a-half years to run on his contract at the Emirates Stadium.