A tactical midfield overhaul sees BVB pivot from Julian Brandt to a €22 million creative powerhouse at PSV, signalling a high-stakes shift in profile and squad strategy.
Borussia Dortmund have reshaped their midfield this summer, replacing Julian Brandt with PSV’s Joey Veerman in a move that has drawn a strong reaction from Bundesliga and Dutch football followers.
Borussia Dortmund’s decision to part ways with Julian Brandt and invest €22 million in Joey Veerman has emerged as one of the more significant midfield changes of the summer transfer window.
Brandt left Dortmund on a free transfer for Ajax, bringing an end to his spell at the German club. Veerman, meanwhile, moved the opposite direction, leaving PSV to join the Bundesliga giants and become part of their first-team squad.
The change was not simply a case of Dortmund allowing Brandt to depart and replacing him with another midfielder. According to German media reports as relayed by PSV Inside, the club had already been looking to reduce the size of its squad while bringing in a different type of midfielder.
Dortmund initially maintained that Brandt’s departure was the result of the two sides being unable to reach an agreement over a new contract. However, reports suggested there was a broader sporting reason behind the decision, with the club looking to reshape its midfield.
That plan ultimately saw Veerman arrive for a reported €22 million, with other reports putting the figure at around €23 million.
Veerman Takes Over Brandt’s Role
Veerman is expected to occupy the creative midfield role that Brandt had largely filled during his time at Dortmund. The Dutchman’s arrival therefore represents a deliberate change in profile rather than a straightforward like-for-like replacement.
The midfielder leaves PSV after establishing himself as an important figure in Eindhoven and now faces the challenge of becoming the new playmaker at Dortmund.
Brandt’s departure also created room on Dortmund’s wage bill, allowing the club to make the financial commitment required to bring Veerman to Germany.
The move has received a particularly positive reaction from some PSV supporters, while Ajax fans have welcomed Brandt’s arrival in Amsterdam.
One long-time Bundesliga follower and PSV supporter, Dennis Creative, offered a blunt assessment of Dortmund’s decision on X.
“Make sense. They let Brandt go, who’s past his best, and they buy a midfielder who brings more quality and class right now. And for all delicate Ajax snowflake little darlings: I follow the Bundesliga, so I do know what I’m talking about.”
The reaction underlines the contrasting perceptions surrounding the two transfers. Ajax have acquired an experienced attacking midfielder without paying a transfer fee, while Dortmund have committed a significant sum to a player they believe can offer a different dimension in midfield.
For Dortmund, the underlying strategy is clear: Brandt’s exit was not merely about allowing a contract to expire. The club wanted to narrow its squad, free up salary space and change the profile of its midfield.
Veerman’s arrival is the outcome of that process, with the former PSV midfielder now tasked with providing the creativity and playmaking qualities Dortmund previously expected from Brandt.
The Dutchman’s move also adds another chapter to an intriguing summer exchange between PSV, Dortmund and Ajax, with Veerman heading to Germany and Brandt taking his place in Amsterdam.
