“On the Sidelines Again: Is Gio Reyna Running Out of Time at Dortmund?”
If you’re a Gio Reyna fan, this story will feel familiar.
Reyna’s season began much like previous ones: sitting on the bench. Borussia Dortmund kicked off their campaign with an easy DFB-Pokal victory over a lower-tier team, and Reyna was once again left watching from the sidelines.
Even with Dortmund comfortably leading 4-1 against Phonix Lubeck and most of the starters on the field, Reyna remained on the bench while Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Julian Brandt, and Karim Adeyemi started, and Julian Duranville and Donyell Malen came in as substitutes. Despite the team dominating, Reyna was still overlooked in the crowded Dortmund attack.
With only days remaining in the transfer window, this reality feels even more critical. Reyna is at a pivotal moment in his career, where he can no longer afford to sit idle. Simply being part of a world-class club isn’t enough anymore—not without actually playing.
For years, Reyna seemed destined to be Dortmund’s next breakout star, following in the footsteps of friends like Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.
That hasn’t materialized, at least not yet.
So, what should Reyna do? He may not have full control over the outcome, but for his sake, the solution needs to involve significant playing time this season. His growth and career trajectory depend on it.
Last season, it seemed Reyna had come to terms with this reality. After spending much of the first half on the bench, he left Dortmund on loan. Unfortunately, the choice of club only made things worse.