Forget Liverpool, Christian Pulisic makes right call with new Dortmund contract

The teenager could have pressed for a move to the Premier League but staying with Dortmund is the right move for the U.S. international.

For an 18-year-old, Christian Pulisic was in an impressive position of power.

The U.S. international could have tried to force a move away from Borussia Dortmund. With a contract set to expire in the summer of 2018, Pulisic could have refused to take a new deal, and Dortmund likely would have cashed in on his value rather than losing him for nothing.

There was smoke and, unlike many transfer rumors, there was almost certainly fire. Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool reportedly had come knocking with an impressive offer — absolutely unheard of for a teenage American — and despite Dortmund’s claims it would not sell, Pulisic could have been tempted to make that deal happen.


Instead, Pulisic decided to remain with the German club, inking a new deal that ties him down until 2020.

While a move to England certainly would have excited American fans who can easily access the Premier League and Liverpool on a weekly basis, Pulisic is best served by staying put at Dortmund. And when you line up the pros and cons, it’s easy to see Dortmund as a near-perfect situation for him.
Dortmund finished second in the Bundesliga last season.

Granted, it was well off the pace set by Bayern Munich, but after a year in the wilderness, the club returned to its expected place near the top of German soccer. With that came a Champions League spot, which featured a chance for Pulisic to cut his teeth against the likes of Legia Warsaw and also an opportunity to make an impact against Spanish giant Real Madrid.

This season’s performance won’t deliver Dortmund a title — the team's too far off the pace of both Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig — but a battle for a European place remains. Dortmund sits fourth in the table, one point off third but just two ahead of sixth. There is plenty on the line for the side, requiring Pulisic to deliver under pressure and prove himself worth a spot in head coach Thomas Tuchel’s XI. And to this point, he has.

This season, Pulisic has played in 13 league games, including nine starts. That’s more than players like Mario Gotze, Shingi Kagawa and Andre Schurrle. Part of that is due to injury as numerous Dortmund players have missed time this season.

However, there is no denying Pulisic has earned his place on merit. In the Bundesliga, he’s scored two goals and delivered four assists, which is tied for second on the team. He’s also created 11 chances along the way, which is tied for third on the team. He also played in all six of the club’s Champions League games, starting five of them. There he’s added an assist and seven chances created, which is fourth on the team.