Bundesliga
“It’s crazy that my friends are still in high school” – Gio Reyna
It sounds like the script from a Hollywood movie, but teenage prodigy Gio Reyna really is living the American dream at Borussia Dortmund having recently made his professional debut in the Bundesliga, describing his current situation as “crazy”.
The attacking midfielder had such an impact in the Dortmund U19s since arriving from New York City FC in summer last year – registering four goals and seven assists in 11 games – that he was promoted full time to Lucien Favre’s first team over the winter break.
The US youth international’s rapid ascent has continued alongside the likes of Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus, to the extent that he was handed his Bundesliga debut at the age of 17 years, five months and two days when he took to the field for the final 18 minutes against Ausgburg on Matchday 18. In the process, he usurped Christian Pulisic as the youngest American to play in the Bundesliga.
He was given his next run-out a week later, this time on home turf at the Signal Iduna Park, helping BVB see a 5-1 thrashing of Cologne over the line. It has therefore been a whirlwind few weeks for Reyna, who is understandably still adjusting to his new reality.
“I made my debut against Augsburg and that was ‘only’ in front of 30,000 spectators, but the fans there were amazing,” he told Dortmund’s matchday magazine. “When I started warming up [at the Signal Iduna Park] I knew there was a chance that I was going to go on, and it’s much more intimidating and scary than the Augsburg stadium.
“But I knew that once I got out on the field that I just had to relax and play my game with me teammates around me to help me. I didn’t get as many minutes, but now I know what it’s like, I got settled in and now I’m ready to keep on helping the team and get some more minutes.”
Watch: Highlights of Dortmund's win over Cologne
If it sounds unbelievable for a 17-year-old to already be playing at a level – and at stadiums – most professionals can only ever dream of, the surreal nature of it all is not lost on Reyna.
“It’s crazy at times, thinking about all my friends being in high school back home and I’m in Germany playing professional football right now in the Bundesliga,” he said. “It’s crazy, but I’m loving every minute of it. I’m enjoying it and learning a lot, so I’m really happy right now.
Reyna also revealed that his father Claudio, a former USA international who laced his boots for both Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen, has been a valuable source of advice.
“Before I came here, my dad always said that the Dortmund stadium was the craziest one he ever played in. He said he never won here, but he scored here one time, so as of right now he has one more goal than me in this stadium. But I’ve said I’ll get more!
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“He’s been through it all," Reyna continued. "He was a few years older than I am now when he came over from America. He gives me tips and teaches me so many things so I’m really grateful that he had the same journey I’m having right now. It’s much easier with his help.”
That support has paid dividends, giving Reyna the foundation and backing he needs to flourish. And having had a taste of the big time, he is now eager for more.
“I’ve always played in a care-free way, but in a good way. I just try to score goals and create for my team and be calm under pressure. I’ve always played a few years up, so that’s helped me developing here with the first team and getting more comfortable with it.“
I have to play my game and be confident in myself because I know I’m capable of being here. That’s why I’m here. I need to do my thing, be creative and play the way I know how to play.“
I’m still so young so I know it’s going to take time. I’ve got a lot of goals coming up this season and throughout my career. This season I want to help the team in any way I can, get minutes and hopefully score my first goals, first assists. And to try to win the Bundesliga this season.”
With Dortmund just four points behind current leaders RB Leipzig, a tense battle for silverware is very much on the cards this term, and Reyna is aware they can ill afford any slip-ups.“
We’ve been very motivated since the winter training camp and we’ve been training hard because we want to win the Bundesliga,” he said. “We cannot drop points in this very tight title race. We know it’s not going to be an easy [against Union Berlin on Matchday 20], but the whole team is ready to fight and give everything to get the three points. We’re ready and motivated.”