Huddersfield Town have signed Erik Durm from Borussia Dortmund for an undisclosed fee. The German fullback was a part of the World Cup winning German squad in 2014 and was considered a hot prospect back then. Bad luck with injuries has meant he’s not yet fulfilled that promise, but he’s back to full health now and ready to get going for The Terriers.
Here are a few bits and pieces that you might like to know about our latest signing.
What kind of player is he?
Durm is a fullback that can play on either flank. His playing style is a hard-pressing, physical, and energetic type of football that should naturally suit Town’s playing style. He likes to get forward and is known for his energy, that allows him to burst up and down the wings.
Durm started as a striker, but converted to fullback early in his career. The suggestion to change position came from then Dortmund coaches, David Wagner and Jurgen Klopp. It’s clear that Wagner thinks highly of the player he coached in the Dortmund second team, and will hopefully know how to get the best out of him.
Erik Durm career history
Durm started his career in the Mainz youth team and then moved over to Dortmund in 2012. He started in the second team that was managed by David Wagner, but was soon promoted to the first team, where he’s been ever since. There’s a more detailed biography on Town’s official website.
Unfortunately Durm didn’t play a single game last season, so there’s no recent history to go on. In earlier seasons he’s played for Dortmund but those appearances have been sporadic. It looks like he’s not yet managed to play more than 20 games in any given season, from the stats I could find.
How will he fit in at Town?
Durm can play as a right or left fullback and has played as a winger at times. While he can do a job on the right side, he’s left-footed and has played most games down the left-flank. His speed and work rate make him an obvious choice for the left wingback position.
It’s not clear whether Town will play with two or three central defenders next season, but Durm’s arrival makes me think Wagner may play three central defenders in more games next season. Kongolo filled in at left-back last year when we needed him, but Durm and Löwe are likely to compete for that slot and I think Kongolo will play more centrally.
Scott Malone didn’t feature in Town’s friendly with Bury on Tuesday despite travelling with the squad. Couple that fact with the arrival of another player in his position and it suggests he may be heading towards the exit. I’d be sad to see Malone go, because I don’t think we saw the best of him last season, but there’s no point in stockpiling left-backs.
TerrierSpirit.com opinion on Durm’s signing
This looks like it has the potential to be a great signing for Town if Durm can keep himself fit and regain some of his earlier promise. He’s arrived on a one-year contract with Town having an option to extend the deal by a further year, so Town’s risk is limited if it doesn’t pan out. I can only assume the undisclosed fee isn’t huge either, so we could be laughing if he can stay fit.
David Wagner has a skill for picking up players with a troubled recent past. Last year he coaxed Depotire and Lössl back to good form after both had struggled the season before elsewhere. The year before he got the best out of Elias Kachunga, who came to Town after failing to make an impression at Ingolstadt.
Durm could be another success story for Huddersfiled Town, which may soon be renamed to “David Wagner’s rehabilitation centre for damaged football careers”!
Good article. Showing the Examiner how it should be done. I’d be sorry to lose Malone before we know we can adequately replace him. But a sizeable bid from another club would be consolation enough.