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dpa
Frankfurt
Mario Gotze, Germany’s hero from the 2014 World Cup triumph, will return to his home country after signing for Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
Frankfurt said on Tuesday the player agreed on a contract until 2025, but did not confirm reports of a €4-million ($4.2-million) transfer fee.
“This club has had an extraordinary development and taken an exciting and ambitious path,” Gotze said.
“From the stadium to the fans and the city, everything suits me. I’m really looking forward to my return to the Bundesliga.”
G?tze was a teen sensation at Borussia Dortmund, where he won Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, before moving to Bayern Munich for 37 million a year later.
But despite collecting several more club titles, and scoring the extra-time winning goal against Argentina in the final as Germany lifted the World Cup in Brazil, G?tze struggled for consistency and a 2016 return to Dortmund failed to reignite his spark.
He moved to the Netherlands in 2020 to try to
rediscover his form away from the Bundesliga spotlight and played solidly for PSV, culminating in the Dutch Cup success in the past season.
Roger Schmidt, G?tze’s former coach in Eindhoven, left for Benfica and media reports said he wanted to take the attacker with him to Lisbon.
But G?tze instead has decided for a return to the Bundesliga and will also be back in the Champions League this year as Eintracht’s surprise Europa League victory earned them a maiden spot in the modern version of the elite competition.
“The fact that a player like Mario G?tze has chosen Eintracht Frankfurt with conviction amid numerous offers, speaks for the outstanding image that the club has built up over the past few years,” Frankfurt sporting director Markus Kr?sche said.
Frankfurt
Mario Gotze, Germany’s hero from the 2014 World Cup triumph, will return to his home country after signing for Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
Frankfurt said on Tuesday the player agreed on a contract until 2025, but did not confirm reports of a €4-million ($4.2-million) transfer fee.
“This club has had an extraordinary development and taken an exciting and ambitious path,” Gotze said.
“From the stadium to the fans and the city, everything suits me. I’m really looking forward to my return to the Bundesliga.”
G?tze was a teen sensation at Borussia Dortmund, where he won Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, before moving to Bayern Munich for 37 million a year later.
But despite collecting several more club titles, and scoring the extra-time winning goal against Argentina in the final as Germany lifted the World Cup in Brazil, G?tze struggled for consistency and a 2016 return to Dortmund failed to reignite his spark.
He moved to the Netherlands in 2020 to try to
rediscover his form away from the Bundesliga spotlight and played solidly for PSV, culminating in the Dutch Cup success in the past season.
Roger Schmidt, G?tze’s former coach in Eindhoven, left for Benfica and media reports said he wanted to take the attacker with him to Lisbon.
But G?tze instead has decided for a return to the Bundesliga and will also be back in the Champions League this year as Eintracht’s surprise Europa League victory earned them a maiden spot in the modern version of the elite competition.
“The fact that a player like Mario G?tze has chosen Eintracht Frankfurt with conviction amid numerous offers, speaks for the outstanding image that the club has built up over the past few years,” Frankfurt sporting director Markus Kr?sche said.
