Giovanni Reyna won’t be under the radar much longer after Dortmund debut

Giovanni Reyna made his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund over the weekend. Who is the young American prospect?

It was 19-year-old Norwegian Erling Haaland who grabbed most of the headlines for Borussia Dortmund following their victory against Augsburg on Saturday. The new signing made an instant impact, coming off the bench to score a hat-trick within 20 minutes to complete his new side’s comeback victory.

One of the highest-profile stars of soccer’s next generation took a big step in proving that he is the real deal, having made the step up from the Austrian Bundesliga to the German equivalent this January.

For supporters of the U.S. men’s national team and U.S. Soccer in general, though, one footnote to this game – Giovanni Reyna coming on as a second-half substitute – was even more important than Haaland’s headline.

Reyna has long been touted as one of the future stars of the USMNT. The son of former United States internationals Claudio Reyna and Danielle Egan, from an early age it seemed almost inevitable that young Gio would take a similar path to that of his parents.

The quality on show within the U.S. youth sides in recent years has led to an eagerness bordering on an impatience to see these stars make the next step.

They are a group that appears to be as good technically as anything the country has produced, but technique is just one of many elements required to become a top-level professional footballer, and this is where these experiences playing first-team soccer come in.

Many of these players have to wait some time for a chance in their respective first teams, but it is easy to forget how young some of them are as they often play above their age at international level.

Reyna was handed his chance with Dortmund’s senior team just 15 minutes after Haaland’s introduction against Augsburg. He replaced Thorgan Hazard in the 72nd minute to become, at 17 years and 66 days, the youngest American to appear in the Bundesliga, breaking Christian Pulisic’s record.

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Given Haaland’s hat-trick and the dramatic nature of this game, it was the perfect opportunity for the 17-year-old to ease his way into the side away from the spotlight.

But this wasn’t just a token gesture from Dortmund head coach, Lucien Favre. Reyna was sent on to do a job, and it was one he did like an already seasoned pro.

“We also played with Gio Reyna,” said Favre during one of his replies to a question about Haaland.

“It was very good. The first time he plays here at 17, that’s good.”

For a player aged 17, coming into such a high-quality and physical league, good is more than enough.

Something which also went under the radar in this game was the part Reyna played in Haaland’s hat-trick goal.

He intercepted a cross on the edge of his own area, dribbled around one player, and passed the ball on to Marco Reus who then released Haaland.

Reyna displayed desire and confidence, sprinting forward in support of his new teammate, offering an option for a pass that would have led to his first senior goal.

With Haaland bearing down on the goalkeeper, Reyna was shouting for a square ball across the area but the Norwegian was never going to spurn the chance for a hat-trick on debut. Haaland was right to shoot, but that Reyna was there asking for the ball after setting up the attack deep in his own half, was a really encouraging sign.

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Anyone who has watched Reyna at youth level will already know he has confidence in his own ability.

He is the first to step up to take free kicks, and has scored a couple already. He’s eager to get shots away in open play, and will take on his marker in order to create the space to do so.

He’s probably most used to cutting in from the left onto his stronger right foot but has played across the three attacking midfield positions, and made his senior debut on the right of the three in a 4-2-3-1.

He will attempt to cross with his left foot if the situation requires such an angle, and he’s busy in and out of possession.

Comparisons will be made with Pulisic seeing as the USMNT star began his own professional career at Dortmund.

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Though Reyna is not exactly like the Chelsea man, there are shades of him in the way he operates, but comparisons to current Dortmund attacking midfielder, Julian Brandt, could also be made.

Reyna is already taller than Pulisic and is already closer to Brandt’s height of over 6ft/185cm. He’s a winger who could grow into a forward or midfielder depending on how he develops in terms of speed, quickness, and works on his stamina.

“It was a dream came true today,” Reyna said of his debut.

“It was a great game for us. When the coach called my name, I was so excited. I was nervous but the guys made me feel comfortable.”

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Reyna is one for the future for Dortmund, but in a league renowned for giving chances to young players, and to Americans, he could become one for the present sooner rather than later.  His role could expand especially quickly if Jadon Sancho returns to England as is regularly rumored.

Reyna, who was named after his father’s former team-mate, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, holds a Portuguese passport through Claudio’s mother Maria which has helped with work permit issues in Europe.

He would also be eligible for England having been born in Sunderland, and Argentina through his paternal grandfather, but there will be no persuading him to play for anyone other than the U.S.

Now he’s made his Dortmund debut, representing the senior USMNT will be the next step, and it’s one which he looks more than capable of making.