Axel Witsel has become a key player for Dortmund since his 2018 move there
One of current Dortmund boss Lucien Favre’s first signings at the Westfalenstadion, Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel has been a fixture in Die Schwarzgelben’s first team since his move from Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian in 2018 for an undisclosed fee – and at the age of 30, he’s finally plying his trade in one of Europe’s top leagues for a genuine Champions League contender.
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A versatile player capable of performing as both a holding midfielder and a more attacking-based player, nobody started more Bundesliga and Champions League matches for Dortmund in 2018-19 than the Belgian, highlighting his importance to Favre’s plans. This season that hasn’t really changed either; Witsel has started in 12 of Dortmund’s league matches, with only injury keeping him out of the others.
His debut season in Germany saw him display his skills most notably in his passing range; Witsel was able to register a remarkable pass success rate of 93.1% in domestic competition and 94.6% in Champions League action, and he’s continued on the same path in 2019-20 too – keeping a success rate of 93% in each major competition. Simply put, Dortmund would be in far worse shape without him.
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About the author
Scott Newman
Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.
Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.
Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.
His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.
Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.
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