Manchester United are monitoring Julian Ryerson again: transfer depends on defensive space and Borussia Dortmund's stance
Manchester United have once again turned their attention to Julian Ryerson, Borussia Dortmund's right-back and a Norway international who has developed in recent seasons into one of the most reliable players in the Dortmund squad. According to information published in Germany by Sky Sport and other specialist football sources, the Old Trafford club have made enquiries about a possible move for the 28-year-old defender, but for now there is no official confirmation that a formal offer has been submitted. At the heart of the story is Manchester United's assessment that Ryerson could strengthen competition on the right side of defence, especially if space opens up during the summer transfer window through the departure of Noussair Mazraoui. Borussia Dortmund, according to the same reports, are not actively looking to sell the player, but would build their negotiating position around his contract, which runs until June 30, 2028. German reports mention a figure above 30 million euros as the approximate lower limit for a serious discussion, which shows that Dortmund would not easily part with a player who has an important tactical and dressing-room role.
Ryerson is not just a backup option on the market
Ryerson's profile explains why his name is appearing again in the plans of a major English club. Borussia Dortmund's official profile highlights his mental toughness, intensity and tactical adaptability, noting that he can play on the right and left of the back line, but also as a wing-back in a system with three centre-backs. Such versatility is particularly valuable to clubs that play a large number of matches during the season in domestic and European competitions, because it allows the coach to adapt the team to injuries, suspensions and different opponents without major structural changes. In that logic, Manchester United would not be looking only for a replacement for one player, but for a defender who can cover several scenarios and raise the level of competition in defence. In modern football, precisely that kind of profile is often as important as specialised quality in one position.
According to Sky Sport Germany, Dortmund are very satisfied with Ryerson, and the long contract gives the German club strong negotiating leverage. That is an important detail because a player entering the final year of his contract can usually put pressure on the club to accept a lower fee, while Ryerson's case looks different. Borussia Dortmund do not have an immediate contractual deadline forcing them to sell, and any potential buyer would also have to take into account the sporting value the Norwegian brings to the team. For that reason, the figure of at least 30 million euros cannot be seen only as a market valuation, but also as a signal that Dortmund would open negotiations only if the offer were convincing enough. In a transfer window in which reliable full-backs with experience in the Bundesliga and European matches are increasingly sought after, such a starting position is not surprising.
Manchester United are waiting for the Mazraoui situation to unfold
The key obstacle to any potential deal is not only the price, but also the structure of Manchester United's existing squad. According to German reports, a possible move for Ryerson is connected to the future of Noussair Mazraoui, the Morocco international who arrived from Bayern in the summer of 2024. Manchester United's official profile states that Mazraoui signed for the club on August 13, 2024, made his debut three days later against Fulham and, in the first phase of his time in England, played in several positions, including both full-back roles, a wing-back role, centre-back and even a more advanced role in certain matches. Such flexibility means that his potential departure would not open only one spot on the teamsheet, but would affect the wider distribution of minutes in the defensive line.
Manchester United already have Diogo Dalot, whose contract the club extended in May 2023 until June 30, 2028, with an option for an additional year. That further explains why Ryerson is described in reports as a potential reinforcement for competition and rotation, and not necessarily as a player who would automatically change the hierarchy at right-back. If Mazraoui stays, United would have several experienced solutions in the same area of the pitch, which could make it harder to justify a fee of at least 30 million euros and additional wage costs. If, however, a buyer emerges for Mazraoui and the club judges that a sale is acceptable from both a sporting and financial perspective, the space for Ryerson would become significantly more realistic. In that sense, this is a typical chain of the modern transfer window: interest in one player often depends on a decision about another.
Dortmund's position is strengthened by a long contract
Borussia Dortmund officially announced in October 2024 that they had extended Ryerson's contract ahead of schedule until June 30, 2028. In the club announcement at the time, it was emphasised that the Norwegian had very quickly become an important part of the team after his arrival, and the very fact that the contract was extended before the previous arrangement expired shows how highly Dortmund valued his development. Ryerson arrived at the club in January 2023 from Union Berlin, who at the time confirmed his immediate move to the Ruhr. That transfer did not initially carry the weight of a glamorous deal, but over time it proved to be one of Dortmund's more practical solutions for defensive depth and intensity.
For Dortmund, Ryerson is also important because of the way he fits into different tactical setups. In matches in which the team needs stability, he can play with discipline in a back four and close the space behind the winger. In matches in which more forward energy is required, he can take on the role of a wide player with greater responsibility in transition and pressing. Such a combination of physical endurance, defensive discipline and readiness for repeated sprints is often not visible in short statistical summaries, but it is highly valued by coaching staffs. For that reason, according to the available information, Dortmund would have no sporting reason to rush into a sale unless the financial offer were strong enough to compensate for the loss.
Why the price of 30 million euros is a realistic starting point
The amount of at least 30 million euros in this case should be viewed through three elements: the length of the contract, the player's role and the state of the market. A long contract until 2028 reduces the pressure on Dortmund and increases the price of entering negotiations. Ryerson's role is not marginal, because this is a player who can cover several positions and who, during his period in Dortmund, has built the status of a reliable solution. In addition, the full-back market has become particularly sensitive in recent years because full-backs are no longer required only to defend one-on-one, but also to participate in build-up play, move into midfield, press high and react quickly after possession is lost.
Manchester United would have to assess in such a deal whether Ryerson brings enough added value compared with the existing options. If the goal is to find a player who can immediately take part in the rotation, raise training intensity and provide security in several systems, the Norwegian international fits that description. If the goal is to find a younger player with greater resale potential, then the club could look at a different profile. At 28, Ryerson is not a development project, but a mature player who would be brought in for an immediate effect. That does not mean the deal has no market logic, but it does mean that United would have to know clearly what kind of role they want to pay for.
English interest does not have to mean a quick transfer
In transfer stories, interest, contact, enquiry and offer are often confused, even though they are different stages of the same process. According to the available information, Manchester United have made enquiries about Ryerson and re-established contact regarding a possible deal, but at present it has not been officially confirmed that Borussia Dortmund have received a formal offer. That is an important distinction because clubs check on a large number of players during a transfer window, sometimes in parallel and for the same position, so that they are prepared if circumstances change. An enquiry does not mean that a transfer is close, but it shows that the player is under serious scouting and market consideration.
For Ryerson, a move to the Premier League would represent a significant step in his career, but also a change of context. The Bundesliga and the Premier League have different rhythms, different physical demands and different media dynamics, especially at a club such as Manchester United. Still, Ryerson's experience at Dortmund, appearances at international level and reputation as a hard-working and reliable player suggest that he would not be the type of signing whose main value is a marketing effect. His potential value would be practical: covering space, stability, intensity and the ability to fit into a demanding schedule without a long adaptation period. That is precisely why his name makes sense in the context of United's search for greater defensive depth.
Mazraoui's future remains an important signal
If Manchester United decide during the summer to keep Mazraoui, the interest in Ryerson could remain at the level of monitoring and preparation for later stages of the market. The Moroccan defender has already shown that he can help in several positions, and the club brought him in precisely because of his combination of experience and versatility. Selling such a player would make sense only if there is a clear sporting replacement or a financial logic that frees up funds for other priorities. Otherwise, United would risk replacing flexibility with flexibility, with an additional cost and uncertainty over the adaptation of a new player.
If, however, serious interest emerges in Mazraoui and United are ready to change the defensive setup, Ryerson could become a concrete target. In that scenario, Dortmund would probably maintain a firm stance on the fee, and negotiations could revolve around the payment structure, bonuses and speed of completion. For the German club, it would be important to have enough time to find a replacement, because losing a player of such breadth immediately before the start of the season can disrupt planning. For United, meanwhile, it would be crucial to avoid a situation in which the sale of one defender precedes a long and uncertain tug-of-war over another.
The broader context of United's defence
Manchester United have often searched for stability in their defensive squad in recent seasons, and the official first-team list shows that the club has a large number of defensive options with different profiles. In such an environment, decisions about full-backs are not isolated, but depend on how the coaching staff sees the entire back line, the balance between attack and defence and the workload during the season. Dalot's long-term contractual anchor provides continuity on the right side, while Mazraoui's versatility makes it possible to cover several gaps. Signing Ryerson would make sense if the club decides it needs another player of high working reliability, and not merely a numerical replacement.
In that sense, Ryerson's potential role would be less glamorous, but important from a sporting point of view. Big clubs often build a season not only on the most expensive attacking names, but also on players who allow the system to remain functional when the schedule becomes congested. The Norwegian has shown exactly that kind of value at Dortmund: willingness to adapt, high intensity and the ability to fulfil demands without the need for the game to be built around him. These are characteristics that are sometimes highlighted less in transfer windows than goals and assists, but they are decisive for maintaining results stability. Manchester United, therefore, if they move into a more concrete deal, would probably be buying security and depth rather than a spectacular headline.
What can be confirmed for now
As of July 9, 2026, several elements of the story can be confirmed, while others remain in the area of transfer assessments. It has been officially confirmed that Ryerson has a contract with Borussia Dortmund until June 30, 2028, and that he joined the club from Union Berlin in January 2023. It has also been officially confirmed that Mazraoui has been a Manchester United player since August 2024, and that Dalot is tied to a contract until 2028 with an option for an additional year. According to Sky Sport Germany and reports that have appeared in football media, Manchester United are monitoring Ryerson and considering him in the context of Mazraoui's possible departure. It has not, however, been officially confirmed that a transfer has been agreed, that Dortmund have accepted talks on concrete terms or that the player has requested to leave.
Such a situation leaves room for several possible outcomes. Ryerson can stay at Dortmund, where he has a contract and an important role. Manchester United can continue to monitor the market, but postpone a move if Mazraoui's status does not change. Dortmund can remain firm on a high price and thereby effectively stop the deal if the offer does not reach the required level. But the very fact that Ryerson is again being linked with Old Trafford shows how reliable and tactically adaptable full-backs have become valuable assets on the European market. In that framework, the Norway international is not a passing rumour without a sporting basis, but a player whose profile matches the real needs of clubs that want a deeper and more resilient squad.
Sources:
- Sky Sport Deutschland – report on Manchester United's interest in Julian Ryerson, Dortmund's stance and the approximate value of a possible deal (link)
- Borussia Dortmund – official announcement on the extension of Ryerson's contract until June 30, 2028 (link)
- Borussia Dortmund – official profile of Julian Ryerson and description of his role in the team (link)
- 1. FC Union Berlin – official announcement on Ryerson's move to Borussia Dortmund in January 2023 (link)
- Manchester United – official profile of Noussair Mazraoui, signing date and description of his versatility (link)
- Manchester United – official announcement on the extension of Diogo Dalot's contract until June 30, 2028 (link)
- The Hard Tackle – report on Manchester United's renewed interest in Ryerson and BILD's claims about a possible transfer (link)