Lena Oberdorf to Bayern Munich: A seismic switch
Even at this comparatively early stage, the Women’s Bundesliga as soon as once more seems to be a two-horse race, with Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg reaffirming themselves as a notch above the remaining. But the approaching record-breaking switch of considered one of Germany’s most sought-after gamers suggests a major energy shift in direction of champions Bayern.
Lena Oberdorf, the sensible, tough-tackling, driving coronary heart of Wolfsburg and Germany’s midfield for the previous couple of years will to maneuver to Munich for a German file price of €400,000 (€429,000) on the finish of this season, the golf equipment introduced on Thursday. With her contract operating out on the finish of subsequent season, this was Wolfsburg’s final probability to get a price for her.
“Lena Oberdorf is one of the most talented players in Germany and has a great future ahead of her,” mentioned Bayern Munich Women’s Department Manager, Bianca Rech. “We look forward to her playing for us from the summer onwards because we are convinced that Lena, as a footballer, represents the values that we need in order to continue to be successful in the future.”
The monetary clout of England’s Women’s Super League (WSL), French giants Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain in addition to Spanish facet Barcelona has fueled one thing of a expertise drain from the German prime flight in recent times. And whereas Oberdorf’s transfer to Bayern – and rejection of Chelsea and PSG, retains one of many nation’s prime skills within the home league, it’s undoubtedly a blow to the membership she’s going to depart behind.
“I really liked the club’s vision of what they want to achieve in the next few years. I was also shown where my potential lies and what else can be got out of me,” Oberdorf mentioned on signing a contract till 2028. “I don’t think I’m a complete player yet, but I want to get there.”
Wolfsburg shedding stars
With two Champions League wins and 6 Bundesliga titles within the final decade, Wolfsburg have been Germany’s flag bearers in ladies’s soccer. But with funding from Volkswagen dwindling in recent times, gamers like Fridalina Rolfo and Pernille Harder have departed for different leagues and larger monetary and sporting alternatives.
The signing of fellow German midfielder Janina Minge, introduced on Tuesday, will soften the blow of shedding Oberdorf considerably. But with Harder and Magdalena Eriksson becoming a member of England midfielder Georgia Stanway as latest arrivals in Munich, and Bayern heading in the right direction to retain their title this time period, the Bavarians seem decided to match the dominance of their males, who’ve received 11 Bundesliga titles in a row, signing loads of expertise from direct rivals alongside the best way.
Nevertheless, Oberdorf’s anticipated transfer would come as one thing of a shock, given her beforehand said aversion to Bayern.
“I can’t imagine joining Bayern,” she instructed German weekly SportBild in 2022, including that whilst a Schalke fan, she backed rivals Dortmund towards Bayern when the 2 have been preventing for the boys’s Bundesliga title.
Oberdorf grew up in Gevelsberg, not removed from Dortmund, and captained the native boys crew as a younger participant, an expertise, she instructed The Guardian, was formative.
Toughening up
“It made me a better player because boys are bigger and stronger and you have to get through them somehow,” she mentioned.
“I also learned to get rid of the ball very fast because I didn’t want to take a bad tackle. But I was used to it from my brother [Tim who now plays for Fortuna Düsseldorf] and sister. When you’re with your siblings in the garden you get those tackles because that’s how it is with family. You get angry at your brother and tackle him just as hard.”
While Oberdorf typically performs in a extra offensive function for Wolfsburg than for Germany, it is her defensive attributes that stand out, these tackles taken and dished out within the backyard have stood her in good stead.
“I need three or four good tackles in order to get into a match,” she instructed DW throughout Euro 2022, when she was named the match’s greatest younger participant. “I’m learning to trust my own strengths even more and just throw everything in.”
The 22-year-old is equally agency off the pitch, criticizing the boys’s World Cup in Qatar and advocating for LGBTQ rights in mild of Saudi Arabia’s proposed sponsorship of final 12 months’s World Cup.
Oberdorf mentioned she’s going to “give everything” for the remainder of this season with Wolfsburg and attempt to assist them regain the title from Bayern, who lead the league by a degree. Even if she manages that, the longer term is wanting more and more Bavarian.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold
