Galatasaray appears to be showing interest in midfielder Julian Brandt, who will be leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season on a free transfer.
According to reports, Galatasaray has already initiated contact with the player’s representatives. The Turkish champions may be able to meet Brandt’s salary expectations and would offer him the opportunity to continue playing in the Champions League.
As it’s long been known that Brandt’s contract with BVB, which expires in June, will not be extended, no transfer fee would be involved. The 48-time German international emphasized in early May, after his last home game for Borussia against Frankfurt (3-2), that his future playing location is still undecided.
«I’m taking it one step at a time. I can say that it won’t drag on until August,» Brandt told Sky. Since his departure from Dortmund became public, there has been considerable speculation about his potential future employers. A move within the Bundesliga seems unlikely, with Brandt leaning towards an overseas transfer.
Move to Galatasaray? Julian Brandt Would Prefer Spain
Galatasaray, where Brandt would reunite with former DFB teammates Leroy Sané and İlkay Gündoğan, could indeed hope to secure the playmaker’s signing. However, reports suggest that Spain is Brandt’s favored destination.
The midfielder is reportedly learning Spanish, and FC Barcelona could be an option. Additionally, Villarreal and Atlético Madrid, with whom Brandt has been previously linked, are mentioned as interested parties.
A move outside of Europe, such as to Japan or the USA, is considered too soon for Brandt, as he wishes to continue playing at a high European level.
Julian Brandt Departs BVB After Seven Years
Brandt has played a total of 307 competitive matches for BVB over seven years, scoring 57 goals and providing 70 assists. While not always a starter last season, he remained an important player under coach Edin Terzić. The club reportedly would have liked to keep Brandt, but ultimately, both parties could not agree on an extension of their collaboration.
Brandt’s last appearance for the German national team was in November 2024, in a 1-1 draw against Hungary in the Nations League. Since then, national coach Julian Nagelsmann has not called him up, making it highly probable that Brandt will miss out on Germany’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray has dominated the Süper Lig for years, having been crowned Turkish champions for the fourth consecutive time. In the 2025/26 season, coach Okan Buruk’s team also proved they can compete at a high international level, reaching the Champions League Round of 16 before being eliminated by Liverpool (1-0, 0-4).
Julian Brandt’s Statistics for the 2025/26 Season
| Games | 41 |
| Goals | 11 |
| Assists | 4 |