The 2024-25 German Bundesliga season gets underway on Friday with several U.S. men’s national team players set to kick off their campaigns.
Gio Reyna and Kevin Paredes headline the six American players in the Bundesliga heading into the opening weekend. Reyna is back with Borussia Dortmund after spending the second half of last season with Nottingham Forest.
Paredes had a busy summer with the U.S. Olympic Team in Paris, playing a key role in Marko Mitrovic’s squad.
Joe Scally is the lone American defender in the Bundesliga season as he continues with Borussia Moenchengladbach. Scally remains a likely candidate to start at right back, but could also feature at left back if necessary.
Lennard Maloney and Heidenheim will aim to build off of last season’s impressive eighth-place finish. Maloney has been a consistent performer for Heidenheim in each of the last two seasons in the top-two German divisions.
Jordan Pefok is back at Union Berlin and eager to get back amongst the goals for the club. After being loaned out to Borussia Moenchengladbach last season, the American forward could play a large role for Union Berlin.
Timmy Chandler is the oldest American player in the Bundesliga and likely will remain a veteran leader in the Eintracht Frankfurt squad. The 34-year-old heads into his 11th season with the club.
Here is a look at the USMNT players in the German Bundesliga this season:
Gio Reyna, Borussia Dortmund
The 2024-25 Bundesliga season could be one of two things for American star Gio Reyna; the start of a new chapter with the club, or the final curtain to his time in Dortmund.
Reyna returns to Borussia Dortmund after an uneventful loan spell with Nottingham Forest during the second half of last season. The 21-year-old played just 231 minutes with the English Premier League club over 10 appearances.
Now with former Dortmund player Nuri Sahin at the helm, Reyna will hope to see a larger role this season in order to get his club career back on track.
Kevin Paredes, Wolfsburg
21-year-old Kevin Paredes is one of the top young talents in the Bundesliga right now.
Paredes scored three goals in 29 combined appearances for Wolfsburg last season, taking the next step in his overall development. He followed that up by scoring two goals at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France for the United States, providing another glimpse of his long-term potential.
Paredes will reportedly miss the early stages of the season due to a foot injury, but is expected back after the September international break.
Lennard Maloney, FC Heidenheim
Just three years ago, Lennard Maloney was playing in the German fourth-tier with Borussia Dortmund II. Fast forward to now, the 24-year-old is a regular starter in the Bundesliga.
Maloney, a German-born American, made 31 appearances for FC Heidenheim last season, scoring two goals and helping the club earn a European Qualification spot. After making the jump with Heidenheim from the 2. Bundesliga to the Bundesliga last summer, Maloney has added two USMNT caps under his belt.
Heidenheim will have even higher aspirations this season and having a healthy Maloney could be crucial for them to achieve those goals.
Joe Scally, Borussia Moenchengladbach
Joe Scally might only be 21-years-old, but he’s become a seasoned veteran for Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Scally heads into his fourth season with Gladbach, as he closes in on 100 combined appearances for the club. The former NYCFC academy player featured in 35 matches last season, occupying a spot on either end of the backline.
After a busy summer with the USMNT, Scally now turns his attention towards helping Gladbach get back among the European places.
Jordan Pefok, Union Berlin
Jordan Pefok is back in the Union Berlin plans, fresh off a loan spell with Borussia Moenchengladbach last season.
The 28-year-old forward scored seven goals and added four assists for Gladbach, despite dealing with a few injury knocks along the way. Pefok has tallied five goals in 45 career appearances for Union Berlin and could be in a better situation this time around than last summer.
Union Berlin fought off relegation last spring and will hope Pefok can lead them into the top-half this year.
Timmy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt
This could very well by Timmy Chandler’s final go-around with Eintracht Frankfurt as a player.
Now in his 11th season with the club, the 34-year-old defender has made just 12 combined appearances over the last two campaigns overall. A former USMNT player, Chandler brings a wealth of experience to the Frankfurt squad and is closing in on 200 career appearances in the Black, Red and White.