Joey Veerman has delivered an immediate statement of intent at Borussia Dortmund, orchestrating the midfield with a precision and composure that has left coach Niko Kovac with a creative midfielder he has long needed. The Dutch international, signed from PSV Eindhoven for approximately €22 million, announced himself decisively in Dortmund's 3-2 Champions League victory over FC Villarreal, demonstrating exactly why several Bundesliga experts ranked him among the division's standout summer signings before the season began.
Veerman's performance in the European fixture showcased qualities that have been conspicuously absent from Dortmund's play in recent campaigns. Against Villarreal, he completed 82 of 87 passes while taking 99 touches—an exceptional tally even for a midfielder in a possession-dominant system. His range was equally impressive: the ball found teammates across the pitch, from defensive zones to attacking thirds, often under intense opponent pressure. This is football with a rhythm and intelligence that recalls the metronomic brilliance of Rodri, Toni Kroos, and Andrea Pirlo—players who prioritise control and vision over frenetic ball progression.
Breaking Kovac's Central Play Reluctance
Throughout his managerial tenure, Kovac has shown a marked preference for bypassing central midfield construction, particularly when pressed. He typically favours rapid switches to the wings rather than building methodically through the centre. This tactical inclination left Marcel Sabitzer, Felix Nmecha, Jobe Bellingham, Julian Brandt and others—all capable operators—peripheral to Dortmund's creative flow. Ball circulation became predictable, and defenders could narrow focus on the flanks. Veerman, however, represents a different proposition. He constantly demands possession in central areas and possesses the game intelligence to execute solutions in congested spaces. Unlike his predecessors at the club, his technical mastery makes ignoring his creative impulse almost impossible for even the most wing-focused coach.
The Dutchman's introduction against TSG Hoffenheim earlier in the Bundesliga campaign signalled the shift coming. He brought structure and composure to sequences that had felt disjointed, proving Kovac's faith in him immediately. Against Villarreal, partnering Felix Nmecha in the double pivot, Veerman elevated everyone around him—Sabitzer ahead to his left and young winger Ethan Nwaneri to his right found themselves receiving the ball in superior positions, equipped to create and attack with genuine threat.
The PSV academy product arrived as last season's Eredivisie assist leader with 14 contributions, a statistic underscoring his natural creative bent. Speed and dynamism are not his calling cards, yet like his idol Pirlo, Veerman compensates through positioning, timing and an almost supernatural ability to find space in the tightest circumstances. Kovac himself acknowledged this after Hoffenheim, praising how Veerman solves problems "in tight spaces" when opposition pressure intensifies—precisely the moments when Dortmund previously surrendered possession or launched speculative passes sideways.
Should Veerman maintain this trajectory, he may become far more than the missing link Dortmund sought in midfield. He could fundamentally reshape how Kovac approaches central play, transforming the team's structural identity and making them more difficult to defend against. That evolution, if sustained, represents the most significant consequence of this summer's transfer activity.
