Ex-Dortmund star Marco Reus signs for Galaxy

Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder and three-time Bundesliga Player of the Season Marco Reus has signed with the LA Galaxy through the end of the 2026 MLS season, the club officially announced on Thursday.

The 35-year-old German was out of contract this summer after closing out a lengthy run with Dortmund that began in 2012. He will occupy an international roster slot once his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC) are approved.

Reus said MLS was his preferred option.

“I feel very, very good, healthy … but I don’t want to continue in Europe because of my past in Dortmund,” he told ESPN. “America, and especially the Galaxy, was my first choice.

“First of all, I want to prove myself, still. I’m 35 years old, but I think I have a lot of energy in my tank.

“And of course, we want to bring the championship home … I’m here to bring the championship home and together, of course, together with my teammates.”

Recently with the Bundesliga club that reached the Champions League final in June, Reus scored 171 goals in 426 appearances across league and cup matches, as well as earning two German Cup titles (2017, 2021) and two Supercup trophies (2013, 2019).

At the international level, Reus has appeared 48 times for Germany, scoring 15 goals.

The attack-minded midfielder could be the missing piece of the puzzle for the resurgent Galaxy, who are sitting at the top of MLS‘ Western Conference table.

“My conversation with Marco was like, look, essentially you can come here and wake a sleeping giant in a new MLS,” Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz told ESPN. “We’ve kind of entered a new age since the Galaxy were last champions, but I do believe that this is the biggest club and to win here means more.

“That opportunity to come and compete, and then also to play with a different type of team. We have a starting 11 that has guys from five different continents on it in a very international city, and that’s something we’re really proud of,” he said.

“It’s a different type of challenge, right? You know, traveling a continent that masquerades as a country, playing in the heat, playing on artificial surfaces, playing in the playoffs, and all these unique challenges that he’s kind of never encountered before … overcome some new obstacles and test yourself in different ways.”

The Galaxy acquired the Discovery Priority to Reus from Charlotte FC in exchange for $400,000 in General Allocation Money ($100,000 in 2024 GAM; $300,000 in 2025 GAM).

Following a dismal 2023 season that ended without a playoff spot, the Galaxy have emerged as title contenders in 2024 with the second-highest tally of points (49) in MLS.

Led by goal scorers and chance creators such as Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig, the Galaxy will have even greater attacking tools with the signing of Reus as they aim to win their first MLS Cup title since 2014.

Currently on a short break after their round-of-32 exit in this year’s Leagues Cup tournament, the Galaxy will return to play on Aug. 24 in a home game against Atlanta United FC. The five-time MLS Cup champion has eight games left in the regular season before the playoffs begin.

Before signing with the Galaxy, Reus was linked with a move to St. Louis City.

Reus becomes the latest veteran international star to join an MLS squad in the past few years, a list that includes Inter Miami‘s Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez and LAFC‘s Olivier Giroud.