ASN’s Brian Sciaretta recaps the 2024/2025 season for Individuals in Germany which noticed two Yanks make spectacular strikes from MLS groups, Damion Downs elevate his recreation, whereas Gio Reyna remained in limbo all year long
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
Might 28, 2025
10:05 AM
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THE GERMAN SEASON is over, and it’s exhausting to say it was a great season within the Bundesliga for American gamers in contrast with current seasons. It was once the house for a lot of prime U.S. nationwide group gamers however that’s not the case proper now. The upside, nevertheless, is that the two.Bundesliga fared higher for youthful gamers.
It’s simple to see why. This previous yr, Brenden Aaronson and Jordan Pefok each left for different international locations. Kevin Pardes basically suffered a misplaced season attributable to accidents. Lennard Maloney moved throughout the league from a group the place he performed to a group the place he didn’t and Gio Reyna remained in limbo at Borussia Dortmund.
What’s left is a far decreased American footprint within the league.
Listed here are some ideas on the American gamers in Germany, how their 2024/25 seasons went, and waiting for 2025/26.
Individuals within the Bundesliga
Joe Scally
Borussia Monchengladbach, proper again
2024/25 season ideas: General, it was a great season for Scally even when he struggled slightly bit down the stretch. In simply the season earlier than, there have been questions within the media that Borussia Monchengladbach was prepared to maneuver on from him. However he ended the 2023/24 season taking part in nicely and continued that into this season the place he was largely constant and reliable. He now has not less than 2200 minutes in every of his final three Bundesliga seasons with final yr being the best complete of his profession at 2586. He’s not an explosive fullback that will get concerned offensively, however he makes only a few errors.
2025/26 season lookahead: For Scally, it’s nearly persevering with to be reliable and reliable. He’s essentially the most outstanding American within the Bundesliga at the moment. If he can add slightly extra offensive manufacturing and create hazard transferring ahead, he can be superb.
Gio Reyna
Borussia Dortmund, attacking midfielder
2024/25 season ideas: We all know it was one other depressing and irritating season for Reyna as he was restricted to only 341 Bundesliga minutes this previous season. During the last 4 seasons, he has performed simply 1894 minutes in league play for Borussia Dortmund and one half-season at Nottingham Forest. In a couple of months he’ll flip 23 and not has the advantage of being a “young player” that coaches really feel motivated to play due to their youth. Nothing is trending nicely for Reyna now and Borussia Dortmund have advised him to search for a brand new membership. However in doing so, BVB has created a dilemma in that his worth has been diminished attributable to his lack of taking part in time, however Dortmund nonetheless will need some huge cash for him. Backside line about this season, Reyna has performed inadequate minutes, seen his worth diminished, and is in a troublesome state of affairs to flee.
2025/26 season lookahead: Reyna simply wants to search out someplace the place he can play usually. Ideally, he wants one season the place he surpasses his final 4 seasons mixed when it comes to minutes performed. We are able to’t lose sight of the actual fact Reyna is proficient but when he’s not taking part in, it’s exhausting to gauge his reliability or if he can get again on observe. The questions this summer season is which groups are keen to pay cash for him, what’s the pathway for enjoying time at these golf equipment, and what’s the minimal worth Dortmund will settle for?
John Tolkin
Holstein Kiel, left again
2025/26 season lookahead: There have been rumors that Holstein Kiel would look to promote Tolkin if the membership was relegated since he was the membership’s costliest signing. However which may not be the case anymore. Days after it sealed relegation and earlier than the ultimate recreation of the season towards Borussia Dortmund, Holstein Kiel made Tolkin out there to the American media together with the golf equipment sporting director. Each talked in regards to the coming 2.Bundesliga season, the upcoming offseason camp in Minnesota, and Tolkin expressed pleasure about serving to the membership return to the highest battle instantly. Something is feasible on this enterprise, however Holstein Kiel is giving the impression Tolkin is right here to remain.
With the Pink Bulls, Tolkin at all times performed nicely north of 2000 minutes, and he wants to try this now with Holstein Kiel in his first full season. It was shocking that Tolkin was not referred to as as much as the USMNT to begin the summer season (in reality, his absence was essentially the most shocking for me), however he stays a candidate to be Antonee Robinson’s backup. However he can get again into that image if he may help the membership get off to a powerful begin within the fall.
James Sands
St. Pauli, defensive midfielder
2024/25 season ideas: Together with Tolkin, Sands was one other participant who impressed within the Bundesliga instantly after leaving MLS. Upon becoming a member of St. Pauli from NYCFC on a mortgage, Sands grew to become an necessary participant for the Hamburg-based membership. What was necessary for Sands is that this season confirmed the advantages of him committing to 1 place as an alternative of fluctuating between defensive midfield and central defender. In 2024, he advised NYCFC that he wished to focus solely on defensive midfield and that dedication labored very nicely for him and he was nicely ready to play that position within the Bundesliga.
2025/26 season lookahead: Clearly, all the things begins with Sands returning to 100% health. If he does that, he ought to be capable of get again into the beginning lineup as it’s clear the membership charges him. From there, he must do his finest to assist stop one other relegation battle. As for the USMNT, he’s in a troublesome spot as a result of there are a variety of gamers within the pool who play his place. Nonetheless, it’s inside attain for him and he ought to be motivated by that probability – even whether it is small.
Lennard Maloney
Mainz 05, defensive midfielder
2025/26 season lookahead: It might be a stretch to be optimistic that Maloney will carve out a major position at Mainz. He’s a really defensive oriented participant, and Mainz may search extra offensive capabilities for his place. However not less than he could have a full preseason and the teaching workers has extra of an opportunity to determine how he may help.
Kevin Paredes
Wolfsburg, winger
2024/25 season ideas: The previous DC United homegrown winger basically had a misplaced season. He injured his ankle late in preseason and the hope was that he would return later within the fall. However in January, it was determined that surgical procedure was obligatory. When he returned in April, his comeback appeared promising and he performed nicely, however he then injured his thigh in simply his second look. After wanting so promising for the Olympic group final summer season, Paredes performed simply 125 minutes this season,
2025/26 season lookahead: Issues have to be higher for Paredes subsequent season. The membership nonetheless charges him and it was refreshing to see that he returned to the sector for a begin in April after lacking the primary eight months of the season. The membership noticed a transparent want for him to be on the sector. Expertise can solely achieve this a lot. He wants to point out that he’s dependable – or else the membership will go searching for somebody who’s. He can do nicely within the Bundesliga and with the USMNT however he must give attention to Wolfsburg first. There can be a variety of strain on him subsequent yr to take action.
Cole Campbell
Borussia Dortmund, winger
2024/25 season ideas: Campbell, 19, is a prime prospect for Borussia Dortmund and has impressed with the membership’s youth groups for 2 seasons. This season, he was given the chance with the primary group and made 4 Bundesliga appearances (for simply 19 complete minutes), one German Cup look for 43 minutes, and one Champions League look for 13 minutes. It was superb for him to take these steps even when he appeared slightly misplaced within the second when he did. Finally, his season ended with an harm on March 1st.
2025/26 season lookahead: Borussia Dortmund could have some choices to make on Campbell. The obvious is whether or not there’s a position for him proper now on the primary group that can give him the minutes he wants, or does a mortgage make sense for him? Provided that he didn’t stand out within the restricted minutes he was given, a mortgage appears essentially the most logical (except he has a really huge preseason for Dortmund). Even with Dortmund within the Champions League, the required minutes won’t be there for him. He has outgrown Dortmund’s youth groups however there’s a hole between that degree and Dortmund’s first group.
In the meantime, U.S. Soccer is hoping that wherever Campbell performs to begin the season, he can be launched to play within the 2025 U-20 World Cup which begins in September.
Noahkai Banks
Augsburg, central defender
2024/25 season ideas: One other prime U.S. youth worldwide was given his first group debut within the Bundesliga as Augsburg gave Noahkai Banks, 18, eight appearances and two begins this season because the membership completed in twelfth place. Throughout is 272 minutes, Banks had some spectacular excessive factors together with some troublesome moments (corresponding to an personal purpose and some turnovers in dangerous locations) that confirmed his inexperience. General, it was good for the membership and for U.S. soccer that he took necessary steps in his growth.
2025/26 season lookahead: To mortgage or to not mortgage? That’s Augsburg’s huge query for Banks this summer season. Central protection is hard for younger gamers as there isn’t as a lot rotation in these positions in contrast with others. Augsburg’s 51 objectives conceded this previous season was tied for seventh finest within the league. It could possibly go both means for Banks whether or not he’s loaned out subsequent season. It comes all the way down to his type in preseason and the power to search out one other membership that has a necessity for a central defender (and never only for a backup).
Timmy Chandler
Eintracht Frankfurt, fullback
2024/25 season ideas: The 35 yr previous veteran made simply three Bundesliga appearances for 21 minutes has his position on the group now could be simply as an emergency backup and for off-field attributes.
2025/26 season lookahead: Eintracht Frankfurt like having Chandler on the group even when he not often performs. He is an efficient presence on the bench, on the coaching fields, and the locker room. He was signed to an extension via subsequent season the place he’ll as soon as towards have a restricted position on the sector.
Individuals within the 2.Bundesliga
Damion Downs
FC Cologne, heart ahead
2024/25 season ideas: The German-American ahead established himself as one of many prime younger American forwards after scoring 10 objectives in 29 league video games throughout 1802 minutes (he additionally added yet another purpose throughout three German Cup video games) for FC Cologne. The season was a unbelievable success for Downs, 20, who performed an enormous half in serving to Cologne win the league and earn promotion to the Bundesliga after final season’s relegation. Past simply his stats, Downs has impressed with the big variety of how which he can rating. He can rating within the air, off the dribble, or with a fast first-touch shot. He impressed and he was rewarded with a USMNT call-up to begin the summer season.
2025/26 season lookahead: Now within the Bundesliga, Downs can be on a fair larger stage. He performed nicely when he was within the Bundesliga on the finish of 2023/24 the place he scored two high quality objectives. However heading into 2025/26, the membership will probably belief Downs with the beginning job. He has his foot within the door for each membership and nation and he’s elevating his recreation on the proper time. The trail in direction of making the U.S. group for the 2026 World Cup is there for him.
Santiago Castaneda
SC Paderborn, central midfielder
2024/25 season ideas: The younger defensive midfielder from Tampa was one of many higher shocking tales amongst Individuals in Europe. Castaneda, 20, was developed via paths in American that sometimes don’t produce the nation’s finest gamers anymore – highschool, non-MLS academies, and many others. However he joined Paderborn final summer season after a season within the 3.Liga and instantly started beginning. In complete, he made 32 appearances, 25 begins, and amassed 2297 minutes as Paderborn got here up simply wanting the promotion playoff recreation, ending fourth. Castaneda realized a variety of classes, fought via some robust occasions, however total was a major constructive behind the membership’s run this yr. He established himself as an excellent prospect.
2025/26 season lookahead: Extra can be anticipated of Castaneda subsequent yr as there can be expectations he’ll take the teachings he realized from his first 2.Bundesliga season and assist anchor a midfield that may compete for promotion. If he does that, he might discover himself within the Bundesliga quickly afterward – both with Paderborn or by way of sale. He’s a participant value preserving an in depth eye on.
Julian Inexperienced
Greuther Furth, midfielder
2024/25 season ideas: It appears exhausting to consider, however subsequent week Julian Inexperienced will flip 30 years previous. The one-time USMNT hopeful ahead is now a reliable two-way central midfielder within the 2.Bundesliga who can nonetheless rating – and is sweet with free kicks. This previous yr he had seven objectives throughout 2358 minutes as Greuther Furth solely secured survival within the remaining week of the season. Inexperienced was one in every of Furth’s finest gamers, nevertheless it was a disappointing season for the group. That is Inexperienced’s degree, however he nonetheless has a variety of worth as a jack-of-all trades within the 2.Bundesliga.
2025/26 season lookahead: Inexperienced will in all probability stay at Furth though a extra bold 2.Bundesliga group is likely to be as Inexperienced could possibly be helpful in a push for promotion. Both means, the protected guess is that he could have one other good 2.Bundesliga season.
Max Dietz
Greuther Furth, central defender/midfielder
2024/25 season ideas: Coming off taking part in for the U.S. on the 2024 Olympics, Dietz had an enormous position with Greuther Furth the place he performed 2230 minutes. Furth didn’t have a great season however Dietz was respectable as he shuffled between defensive midfield and central protection. For a younger participant, it was productive for him to play lots.
2025/26 season lookahead: Dietz must present progress subsequent yr and the membership may be capable of promote him for a revenue if he does. In that sense, will probably be an necessary yr for him. One facet he may discover obligatory is to select a place dedicate himself to it (just like what James Sands did). Which may the one means for him to achieve his ceiling. If he stays at Furth subsequent yr, he ought to proceed to be an everyday starter however will probably be necessary to see if he has a set position/place.
Johan Gomez
Eintracht Braunschweig, attacking midfielder/ahead
2024/25 season ideas: It was a troublesome season for Gomez who noticed his taking part in time lower to only 1606 minutes (in contrast with 2238 minutes the yr earlier than). Throughout all competitions he had 0 objectives and a pair of assists as his membership, Eintracht Braunschweig, solely prevented relegation by way of the playoff.
2025/26 season lookahead: Gomez can be beneath a variety of strain to be higher subsequent season if he stays at Eintracht Braunschweig. As an attack-minded participant, he wants objectives and assists to maintain his job. That didn’t occur this yr and if it doesn’t occur subsequent yr, the membership will in all probability search for completely different choices.
John Brooks
Hertha BSC, central defender
2024/25 season ideas: Brooks didn’t play as he suffered a season-ending harm earlier than the season started.
2025/26 season lookahead: It’s anybody’s guess if Hertha count on him again in a beginning position or in the event that they see him as a backup if he recovers nicely. Hertha completed midtable and a wholesome Brooks ought to be capable of assist. However he is likely to be on the tail finish of his profession now.
3.Liga notes
One huge word from the third tier is that Arminia Bielefeld gained the league and earned promotion to the two.Bundesliga after an excellent season which additionally noticed them advance to the German Cup remaining. Arminia Bielefeld was led by captain and midfielder Mael Corboz, 30, who was named the three.Liga Participant of the Yr. Additionally, Isaiah Younger, 17, scored 4 objectives and added 4 assists within the promotional effort.
It was an incredible season for the membership’s two Individuals and they’ll now be tasked with preserving the group afloat within the second tier.
