Kleindienst extends services

Kleindienst, 30, only joined Gladbach in summer 2024 from Heidenheim on four-year deal. He was their top scorer in his maiden campaign with 16 goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances, as well as providing seven assists, earning him his first caps for Germany.

Watch: Kleindienst - late into the limelight

“Tim quickly became a leader and a senior international in his first year with us and is now also captain of the team this season. We’re very pleased with his progress and his performances,” said new sporting director Rouven Schröder.

“He’s someone who leads from the front on the pitch, and we’re really looking forward to him returning again from his injury.”

That injury to his knee was suffered in the penultimate game of last season and has kept the 6’4’’ striker out of action so far this term.

“I feel very much at home at Borussia. It’s just a great club. And I also firmly believe in this team. I want to work on helping the club getting back to the top,” Kleindienst said of prolonging his services to the Foals.

It has been a tough start to the season for Gladbach without their captain and leading goalscorer. It took them until last weekend to get their first Bundesliga win, beating St. Pauli 4-0 thanks to a Haris Tabaković brace.

Watch: Kleindienst talks new Gladbach deal

Kleindienst, who has four goals in six appearances for Germany in the last year, finally returned to the training pitch during the week for his first individual sessions working with the ball as he targets a prompt return.

He’ll still be watching from the stands, though, when Gladbach host arch-rivals Cologne at Borussia-Park on Saturday evening for the Rhine derby looking to climb out of the bottom three.