On This Day in 2019, Pulisic Enjoyed a Productive Send-off in Germany
The spring of 2019 brought a bittersweet mixture of anticipation and farewell to Signal Iduna Park. For Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund's American winger, it represented both an ending and a new beginning. After signing a £58 million deal with Chelsea in January—a move making him the most expensive American player in history—the 20-year-old had opted to remain with Dortmund until season's end. His final campaign, however, had proven challenging. Struggling with minor but persistent injuries and the weight of his impending departure, Pulisic had seen his minutes dramatically reduced from the previous season, when he had been a driving force in Dortmund's attack.
The Pennsylvania native's journey with the Black and Yellows had begun four years earlier as a fresh-faced 16-year-old joining the club's vaunted youth academy in February 2015. His ascent had been meteoric, scoring five goals with three assists in just five games for the U17s before being promoted to the U19s, where he continued to impress with six goals and six assists in twelve matches. By January 2016, Thomas Tuchel had summoned the teenager to first-team training during the winter break, and Pulisic made his senior debut on January 30th against Ingolstadt. The spring of 2019 brought a bittersweet mixture of anticipation and farewell to Signal Iduna Park.
As May 2019 approached, Dortmund's unlikely title challenge against Bayern Munich had begun to falter. With captain Marco Reus suspended for a critical clash against Werder Bremen on May 4, Pulisic was thrust into the starting lineup. The timing seemed poetic—a chance for the departing American to remind the Dortmund faithful what they would soon be missing as they clung to fading championship hopes.
The atmosphere at the Weserstadion was electric that Saturday afternoon, with both teams needing points for their respective ambitions. Dortmund, trailing Bayern by two points with three matches remaining, needed a victory to keep pace in the title race. Bremen, meanwhile, harbored European qualification hopes of their own. The tension was palpable as Pulisic, wearing the number 22 jersey that had become so familiar over his four-year tenure, took his position on the left wing.
Just six minutes into the match, the moment would become Pulisic's penultimate goal in Dortmund colors. Receiving a pass from Thomas Delaney near the halfway line, the American embarked on a breathtaking solo run. With a burst of acceleration that had become his trademark, Pulisic surged forward, nutmegging Serbian defender Milos Veljkovic before gliding into the penalty area. As Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka advanced, Pulisic maintained his composure, calmly slotting the ball between the Czech shot-stopper and the near post. Signal Iduna Park erupted as Pulisic wheeled away in celebration, arms outstretched in a moment that exemplified the audacious talent that had made him a Dortmund hero.
The goal showcased everything that had made "Captain America" so special during his time in Germany—explosive pace, technical brilliance, and clinical finishing. His impact continued throughout the first half as he won the free kick that Paco Alcacer converted in the 39th minute, giving Dortmund a commanding 2-0 lead. Pulisic's relentless two-way running epitomized the work rate that had endeared him to supporters on both sides of the Atlantic.
However, what should have been a triumphant afternoon turned sour in the second half. Bremen mounted a spirited comeback through Kevin Möhwald and veteran Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro, whose 75th-minute equalizer effectively extinguished Dortmund's title hopes. The 2-2 draw left Dortmund four points behind Bayern with just two matches remaining—a devastating blow despite Pulisic's heroics.
But the American wasn't finished writing his Dortmund story. One week later, in his final home appearance at Signal Iduna Park, Pulisic was honored in a pregame ceremony by sporting director Michael Zorc and managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke. With a yellow and black scarf draped around his neck, he received a thunderous ovation from the supporters who had watched him grow from promising teenager to global star.
Pulisic repaid their adoration by again finding the net in a 3-2 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf, scoring with an instinctive header after peeling away from his defender. It marked his second goal in as many games—a fitting renaissance as his Dortmund journey neared its conclusion. In his final match for the club on May 18, Pulisic registered an assist in a 2-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, bringing his Dortmund career full circle with one last decisive contribution.
After 127 appearances, 19 goals, and 26 assists across all competitions, Pulisic's Black and Yellow chapter had closed. As he departed for London and the upcoming Premier League challenges, he left a legacy as one of the most successful Americans to ever play in Germany. For Chelsea, who faced an impending transfer ban and the likely departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, Pulisic represented both immediate reinforcement and future potential.
As he had done as a 16-year-old arriving in Dortmund, Pulisic now faced the challenge of proving himself in unfamiliar surroundings. The goal against Bremen—a moment of individual brilliance amid team disappointment—perfectly encapsulated the player he had become: a singular talent ready to carry the weight of expectations on both club and international stages.
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