By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Serhou Guirassy's latest announcement indicates a happy end after his bumpy transfer to Borussia Dortmund.
Ahead of the league encounter against Heidenheim this Friday evening and next week's 2024/25 season UEFA Champions League curtain raiser against Bruges, the 28-year-old Guinean international surprised the Black and Yellow fans with a shirt-number change from 19 to 9.
As the former Stuttgart striker was forced into an injury break over the past weeks, missing his debut appearance, many supporters had already bought the BVB shirt bearing his first choice.
The club and player told fans to pay additional costs for those, intending to follow his example and change from 19 to 9.
The announcement comes with breaking news like posting, that the striker for the first time is likely to make it into the competitive squad for a Dortmund game since he joined the side this summer for a reported 18 million euros.
Coach Nuri Sahin praised the attacker's efforts over the past weeks "as I don't see any break in his head. He trained well and made significant progress."
Having scored 28 season goals in the national league for his former club made the BVB grab the striker owning an exit clause.
Unexpected troubles accompanied the move as Guirassy failed the usual medicine test as a knee injury was detected.
For a few days, the transfer seemed endangered before the forward and the 2012 German Champion decided to make a second attempt after the test brought to light that a recovery break of a few weeks might do the job.
Guirassy went through treatment and the agreement between the player and the club led to the departure of German international Niclas Fullkrug, who joined Premier League side West Ham in a last-minute move.
Next to Guirassy, Dortmund signed 21-year-old German international Maximilian Beier and put his attacking hopes on new shoulders.
The shirt number change was possible as UEFA rules allow the change due to Guirassy and former number bearer Sebastien Haller not yet having played in the 2024/25 season.
Guirassy and Beier stand for the team's relaunch, as the club claims to again head for a national league title after a drought of twelve years.
After a disappointing goalless draw in Bremen, improvement seems inevitable on home soil coming along with growing expectations of fans regarding the first appearance of the Guinean striker.
Guirassy praised his new club as "one of the greatest in football" and called its fans, "one of footballs most passionate." ■
