Diant Ramaj, loaned from BVB to 1. FC Heidenheim, is experiencing a challenging period, holding a negative record among goalkeepers in Europe. The future of the 24-year-old goalkeeper remains highly uncertain.
Since Ole Book took over as Sporting Director at Borussia Dortmund, speculation about potential new signings fitting his strategy has been rife. However, the 40-year-old also needs to address the players currently under contract at BVB.
While there are many players on the roster, the situation for four of them is distinct. As of now, the loan spells of Julien Duranville (FC Basel), Cole Campbell (1899 Hoffenheim), and Kjell Wätjen (VfL Bochum) are set to end on June 30th. The same applies to Diant Ramaj, who was sent to 1. FC Heidenheim. His profile as a goalkeeper presents a different set of challenges compared to outfield players.
Borussia Dortmund surprisingly signed Ramaj from Ajax Amsterdam in February 2025 and immediately loaned him to FC Copenhagen. There, the now 24-year-old impressed immediately, winning a domestic double with the Danish side. The club was eager to keep him, but Ramaj opted to return to the Bundesliga to «become more visible,» as he put it.
He had already gained significant visibility before that. Less than two months after his move to BVB, Ramaj gave an interview to Sport Bild, making statements that garnered attention and caused internal consternation in Dortmund.
Diant Ramaj: An ‘Unique’ Statistic in Europe
«Among young talents, I am number 1 – in my opinion,» he stated, adding, «I said I am the best goalkeeper of the young generation. And I think I have proven that in the past few months!» Regarding Borussia Dortmund, he declared, «I need to keep playing, get minutes, gain match experience. Therefore, it’s clear to me: I won’t sit on the bench in Dortmund! It’s clear to me that I’m not coming to Dortmund to be second fiddle, to have no chance behind Gregor Kobel. I need to play.»
In this regard, Ramaj is on track. With considerable fanfare for Heidenheim’s standards, he replaced veteran Kevin Müller and has been the starting goalkeeper for the Bundesliga’s bottom-placed team ever since. FCH has conceded 66 goals, the worst record in the league, shared with VfL Wolfsburg.
However, Ramaj’s most concerning statistic is one that no other goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues has. The Stuttgart-born keeper is the only one this season who has never kept a clean sheet.
Last Clean Sheet Was Eleven Months Ago
The experience of a relegation battle is new for Ramaj, and it’s difficult to boast positive statistics when playing for the last-placed team. Weeks ago, Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt commented, «A goalkeeper is always in the spotlight. It certainly hasn’t been easy for him lately, but he’s positive, works like possessed, and is someone who acts rather than reacts.»
The club from Brenz did manage a clean sheet in a cup match. In their 5-0 first-round DFB-Pokal victory against Bahlinger SC, Ramaj even saved a penalty. That was on August 16th. In a league match, his last clean sheet was on May 25th, when he was still playing for Copenhagen.
Ramaj was an outfield player, an attacker, in his youth. He is strong with the ball, and his build-up and continuation play are very decent. However, he has not been without errors in his core job of saving shots. Ramaj has saved nearly 60 percent of the shots on his goal. In the Bundesliga, this places him in 17th place, second to last.
Diant Ramaj: Will Heidenheim Change Goalkeepers?
Six goals resulting from errors is also too many, as are the 2.2 goals conceded per game. Given that he faces many shots, he makes an average of 3.3 saves per 90 minutes, ranking him sixth in this category.
«If we stay in the league,» Ramaj told kicker, «it’s as if we had won the league with Bayern Munich, for example. In my mind, staying in Heidenheim is like winning a cup.» Whether he will have the opportunity to improve his personal statistics in the remaining four games, with a seven-point deficit to the relegation playoff spot and an uncertain future, is not definitively decided.
Coach Schmidt is, of course, already considering options for the likely upcoming second division season. One of those is to make Ramaj’s deputy, Frank Feller, the new number one. «Contracts don’t interest me. It’s about performance, about the idea on game day. Fundamentally, Diant Ramaj is supposed to play because he is our number one, but despite everything, it is possible that we will give Frank one or two games,» Schmidt stated.
«I Want to Establish Myself as Number 1 at Dortmund»
Where Ramaj will be between the posts next season is therefore extremely unclear. Throughout the season, he has deflected questions about his future with platitudes. Heidenheim does not have a purchase option for him. At BVB, with the undisputed number one Gregor Kobel (contract until 2028), there is no indication of a move. And Alexander Meyer, the number two, only extended his contract in December until 2027.
«Dead fish swim with the current. I know what I can do – and I have no problem saying it,» Ramaj explained. «Clearly: I want to establish myself as number 1 at Dortmund. I work towards that every day.»
For Book and BVB, the Ramaj situation presents a tricky task. Another loan to a more ambitious club at a similar level seems sensible. But how many temporary stints can an ambitious goalkeeper with three years left on his contract with a Champions League club endure?
Diant Ramaj: Performance Data at 1. FC Heidenheim
| Matches Played | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheets | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 65 | 1 | 2 |