Ryerson's carnival masterclass: The Norwegian wing wizard linked with Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund's Julian Ryerson is turning heads with his incredible assist numbers, including a four-assist haul against Mainz that has top clubs circling.
Dortmund’s Norwegian full-back Julian Ryerson has gone from bargain buy to assist king in a remarkable transformation that has Barcelona reportedly taking serious notice.
Four-assist masterclass
The 27-year-old put on an absolute clinic in Dortmund’s 4-0 demolition of Mainz, providing all four assists in a performance that had the BVB faithful in dreamland. Three of those assists came from corner kicks, showing his dead-ball prowess is becoming a serious weapon.
“Estuvo realmente increíble,” gushed Sebastian Kehl, Dortmund’s sporting director, clearly blown away by what he’d witnessed.
This wasn’t just a one-off performance from the man Dortmund have now dubbed ‘Der Flankengott’ (God of the flank). Ryerson has become just the fourth player to register four assists in a single Bundesliga match since Opta began collecting data in 2004-05.
From steady defender to assist machine
The transformation has been nothing short of remarkable:
- 6 assists in his last 4 matches
- 13 total assists this season (11 in Bundesliga)
- Only Olise (16), Luis Díaz (13), Bruno Fernandes and Federico Dimarco (12) have more assists across Europe’s top five leagues
- Ranks second for crosses delivered in the Bundesliga (136)
What makes this even more extraordinary is that Ryerson had managed just four assists in his previous three Bundesliga seasons combined. Talk about finding your form!
Barcelona interest heating up
Unsurprisingly, his performances haven’t gone unnoticed. According to Bild, Barcelona are among the clubs showing serious interest, alongside Newcastle and Manchester United.
The Norwegian international, who joined Dortmund from Union Berlin for a modest €5 million in 2023, now reportedly has a valuation of around €40 million. That’s some serious dough, but given his current form, it might be a price worth paying.
Barcelona’s interest makes perfect sense when you look at their current right-back situation. While Jules Koundé is technically gifted, his offensive output has been minimal this season - something that apparently doesn’t sit right with manager Hansi Flick.
Ryerson has a contract with Dortmund until 2028, but if he keeps serving up assists like they’re going out of fashion, the Catalan giants might be tempted to splash the cash this summer. The boy’s playing like he’s got Beckham’s right foot at the moment - absolute mustard!