The former Premier League stars who helped Borussia Dortmund reach the Champions League final

Few football fans would have predicted that Borussia Dortmund would reach the Champions League final at the start of the season, but here we are.

BVB have struggled to make much of an impact in the Bundesliga, where they currently sit in fifth place, and lost talented midfielder Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid after agonizingly missing out on the goal difference title last term.

But even though their league performance has been subpar, Dortmund have been strong in Europe. Edin Terzic's side only lost a group stage game despite being drawn against Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United and, after going through PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid in the knockout stages, were desperate for PSG to fail in the semi-finals. the final.

They reached the final at Wembley Stadium with the help of a few names known from their time in the Premier League.

Since joining the club in 2019 as an exciting new prospect, Ian Maatsen has not had a good shake at Chelsea.

The Dutchman, who made his first-team debut for the Blues in 2019, spent time on loan with Charlton Athletic, Coventry City and Burnley in his formative years and turned down a move to the Clarets outright after helping them to promotion to the Premier League. League.

He has been played out of position by current manager Mauricio Pochettino, playing in midfield and on the wing, but has made Dortmund's left-back position his own since signing on loan in January.

BVB officials have spoken of their optimism over the 22-year-old's permanent contract and Chelsea may be tempted to sell him to recoup some money after years of reckless spending.

Marcel Sabitzer's loan move to Manchester United last season was 'blink and you'll miss it' as transfers enter the modern game.

The Austria international made the odd contribution here and there – including two goals in a Europa League tie against Sevilla – but his campaign ended early due to a meniscus injury.

He was lost among the billions of stars at Bayern Munich but his talent came out to be seen during Dortmund's 1-0 win over PSG in the semi-finals.

Sabitzer will need to be at his best when the Champions League final kicks off in early June.

Much was expected of Emre Can when he joined Liverpool in 2014 for a smidge under £10m. He was along for the ride as the Reds reached the Champions League final in 2018 but decided it was time for a new challenge when Juventus came calling.

While winning the Serie A following that free transfer, the Germany international was quickly deemed surplus to requirements and loaned to Dortmund in January 2020 with an obligation to make the deal permanent.

Can helped BVB win the DFB-Pokal and succeeded Marco Reus as first-team captain, anchoring the midfield.

A number of big-money strikers have tried and failed to land at West Ham United. Sebastien Haller is one of them, scoring ten Premier League goals in 48 games before enjoying a two-goal season with Ajax.

Dortmund signed him in the summer of 2022, marking his second in the Bundesliga after spending time with Eintracht Frankfurt, but Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer and did not play again until January 2023.

He was an unused substitute in Dortmund's win in Paris and has played just 51 minutes in three Champions League games this season, scoring against Atletico Madrid.

Did you know that Jadon Sancho scored almost a billion in Dortmund's semi-final first leg win over PSG?

It has been a surprising turnaround for the England international, who left Man Utd unceremoniously after falling out with Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag. His statistics since returning to Signal Iduna Park have been impressive, he has three goals and one assist in 18 games, but it has been a much better result than the one at Old Trafford.

There's every chance he'll return to United in the summer, especially if Ten Hag is given the boot after a poor season, but first Sancho will be hoping to lead his loan side to one of their biggest Champions League triumphs.

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