Göktan Gürpüz: Who is the Turkish-German midfielder hoping to break through at Borussia Dortmund?
Göktan Gürpüz has already crossed the Revierderby divide - will the Borussia Dortmund midfielder get to face Schalke for real in 2023/24? bundesliga.com takes a closer look at his top-flight credentials...
Stats correct as of 10 July 2023
Age: 20 (born 22 January 2023)
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Attacking midfielder
Country: Turkey (four U21 caps)/ Germany (eight U19 caps)
Key stats
Gürpüz has spent the last two seasons training with the Dortmund seniors, but playing for the reserves and U19s. He had a direct hand in two goals in 14 3. Liga appearances in 2022/23, having contributed 11 to BVB's U19s Bundesliga title-winning team a year earlier, as well as 15 across 21 U17 Bundesliga outings in 2019/20.
An unused Bundesliga and DFB Cup substitute on a handful of occasions to date, Gürpüz has once again been named in Dortmund's first-team squad ahead of 2023/24. The 5'8" midfielder - who spent five years at Schalke's famed youth academy before moving to fierce local rivals BVB in 2016 - has a contract with the Black-Yellows through to summer 2025. He has played for Germany and Turkey at junior international level.
Plays a bit like: Leon Goretzka
There's more than a touch of Leon Goretzka about Gürpüz. The BVB youngster has a similarly leggy stride to the Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder, and is just as comfortable operating in tight spaces. He's also strong in the tackle and likes a shot from range.
Did you know?
Göktan is not the only Gürpüz on the Dortmund books. Younger brother and fellow midfielder Gökdeniz is currently with the U19s.
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What they're saying
"He still needs to fill out physically, but there's no questioning his potential. He'll surely play in the Bundesliga some day." - Dortmund U19s coach Mike Tullberg
"He has a great deal of game intelligence, is quick to act and recognises the spaces he has to operate in." - Lars Ricken, director of Dortmund's youth performance centre
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