FROM DORTMUND WITH LOVE: Why Liverpool’s ‘Viking’ Raid for Julian Ryerson is the Ultimate January Rescue Mission
​It is January 12, 2026, and if you listen closely to the winds whistling across the Mersey, you’ll hear a familiar sound: the opening of the Liverpool FC “Bundesliga checkbook.”
​The news has officially broken, and it’s as bittersweet as a shot of espresso on a winter morning. First, the sting: Conor Bradley, the 22-year-old Northern Irish whirlwind who had effortlessly filled the boots of Trent Alexander-Arnold, is officially out for the season. A “significant” knee injury sustained at the Emirates has sent him to the surgeon’s table, leaving Arne Slot with a gaping hole at right-back just as the title race hits fever pitch.
​But where there is a crisis, there is a plan. And in true Liverpool fashion, that plan involves a flight to Germany.
​Reports from The Echo and German football insiders confirm that Liverpool has officially opened talks for Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Ryerson. This isn’t just a “panic buy”—this is a tactical heist for the most underrated “Viking” in European football.
​Part I: The Bradley Blow – A Hero Sidelined
​Before we talk about the newcomer, we have to acknowledge the heartbreak. Conor Bradley wasn’t just a backup; he was the future. Since Alexander-Arnold’s high-profile departure to Real Madrid last summer, Bradley had become a symbol of Liverpool’s “Next Gen” dominance.
​The injury happened in the 90th minute against Arsenal—a moment of pure misfortune that saw him leave the pitch in a brace. While Gabriel Martinelli has since apologized for his “moment of madness” (pushing the injured defender off the pitch), the damage is done. Bradley is out until the 2026/27 pre-season.
​With Jeremie Frimpong’s fitness a constant concern and Joe Gomez already juggling duties at center-back, Arne Slot found himself staring at a depth chart that was essentially a blank sheet of paper. Enter the Viking.
​Part II: Who is Julian Ryerson? The Man Who Never Stops
​If you aren’t familiar with Ryerson, imagine a player who combines the lungs of a marathon runner with the defensive intensity of a street brawler.
​The 28-year-old Norwegian international has spent the last few seasons becoming Dortmund’s “Mr. Reliable.” Whether it’s shutting down world-class wingers in the Champions League or providing the overlap for BVB’s attack, Ryerson has been the heartbeat of the Signal Iduna Park.
​Why Liverpool is Obsessed:
- ​The “Viking” Mentality: Even his coach, Niko KovaÄŤ, calls him a Viking. He sparing neither himself nor his opponents. In a high-intensity Arne Slot system, Ryerson is a perfect fit.
- ​The Creativity: Ryerson is currently having his best offensive season yet, with 4 assists in 15 Bundesliga games. He’s in the 89th percentile for assists and the 97th percentile for expected assisted goals among all full-backs in Europe.
- ​The Versatility: He can play right-back, left-back, and even center-back in a back three. For a Liverpool squad that has also lost Geovanni Leoni to an ACL injury, that versatility is worth its weight in gold.
​Part III: The Bundesliga Connection – Liverpool’s Favorite Shop
​Let’s be honest: Liverpool’s scouting department has “Bundesliga” set as their homepage. In the last two years, the Reds have spent a king’s ransom on German-based talent.
​If Ryerson signs, he’ll join a “Little Germany” at Anfield that already includes:
- ​Florian Wirtz: The £126m creative genius who has taken the league by storm.
- ​Hugo Ekitike: The clinical frontman who arrived from Frankfurt to replace Darwin Núñez.
- ​Dominik Szoboszlai: The midfield engine who Slot has even had to use at right-back during this crisis.
- ​Jeremie Frimpong: The rapid Dutch international who Ryerson would likely rotate with.
​Dortmund is reportedly reluctant to sell. They’ve just signed Ryerson to a contract extension until 2028, and he is a fan favorite. But when Liverpool comes calling with a reported ÂŁ25m–£30m offer and a Premier League title on the line, the “Yellow Wall” might find it hard to say no.
​Part IV: Tactical Chess – How Ryerson Fits In
​Under Arne Slot, Liverpool’s full-backs aren’t just defenders—they are auxiliary playmakers.
​By bringing in Ryerson, Slot solves two problems at once. First, he gets a “defensive specialist” who can handle the league’s trickiest wingers. Second, he allows Jeremie Frimpong to be pushed further forward.
​With Mohamed Salah currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Alexander Isak nursing a minor hamstring strain, Liverpool is short on attacking thrust. Ryerson sitting at right-back allows Frimpong to play as a “chaos-agent” on the wing, ensuring Liverpool’s attack doesn’t go stale while Salah is chasing glory with Egypt.
​The Verdict: The Final Piece of the Winter Puzzle?
​The “Wednesday Deadline” is looming. Liverpool wants the deal done before their next major clash, and Dortmund is already looking at replacements (with Man City’s young stars reportedly on their radar).
​Julian Ryerson might not have the “Galactico” name of a Kylian MbappĂ© or a Jude Bellingham, but for a Liverpool team with a trophy in their sights and a hole in their defense, he might just be the most important signing of the year.
​The Viking is coming. West London and Manchester, you’ve been warned.