Mario Gotze to Borussia Dortmund: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More

Mario Gotze completed a transfer from Bayern Munich to Borussia Dortmund on Thursday, taking him back to the Westfalenstadion for a second spell.

News of the transfer came via a BVB tweet (translated by ESPN FC):

Bayern also confirmed the news and wished Gotze "all the best." 

The switch ends a turbulent three years in Bavaria for the Germany international, with Gotze unable to fully establish himself in the Bayern first team under former manager Pep Guardiola.

Per DW Sports, it's evident the playmaker regrets the move to Bayern. According to football writer Rupert Fryer, the Bavarians will be happy enough with what they achieved in signing him:

Meanwhile, Squawka noted Dortmund had come full circle by re-signing Gotze and revealed the numbers he put up during his time in Munich:

Here’s a look at what the German is capable of at his best:

When Bayern completed the signing of Gotze from their Bundesliga rivals in 2013, they looked to be getting one of the crown jewels of European football.

The midfielder had showcased sensational potential with Dortmund, and with Guardiola joining Bayern that summer, Gotze was expected to establish himself as one of the world’s finest players.

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

But he never reached the heights expected of him at the Allianz Arena. There have been flashes of untamed genius from Gotze, most famously his winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final for Germany. It was a special moment at odds with the player’s development overall, though. If anything, he stagnated in Bavaria.

During his time at Bayern, he never put together a sequence of games that compared to the levels that were regularly on show at Dortmund. For BVB, Gotze was an eminent, effervescent talent at the heart of a vibrant side, marrying intricate dribbling ability with an eye for an incisive pass.

PATRIK STOLLARZ/Getty Images

The fans were not happy with the midfielder when he left. Sport Witness' Tom Coast thinks it'll be fascinating to see how they respond to his return, as do MailOnline's Jonny Singer, the Football Ramble's Kelly Welles and football writer Liam Canning:

Provided he's given ample opportunities in Dortmund, there's little doubt the playmaker will blossom. There are few teams on the planet that have enough quality to leave Gotze out of their starting XI, and at Westfalenstadion, the midfielder will surely go on to play a vital role in familiar surroundings.

This responsibility, a regular spot in the starting XI and the backing of BVB coach Thomas Tuchel should enable Gotze to rekindle a career that’s stalled over the past few seasons.

If he can do so, Dortmund will have a player capable of going to the top with the ability to fire them to many successes in the seasons to come.