Sawt Falasteen - Former Germany women's star Popp signs with Borussia Dortmund

One of Germany's best-known athletes when she stepped down from international duty in October 2024, childhood Dortmund fan Popp said she wanted to help bring the third-tier side to the top division.

"My heart beats for this club," striker Popp, 34, said in a statement announcing her three-year deal.

"I'm slowly approaching the end of my career and I need to listen to my body, but I didn't want to miss the chance to play in a Dortmund jersey."

Three-time German Footballer of the Year and a gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Popp was presented to the 82,000-strong Westfalenstadion crowd just before the men's team beat Augsburg 2-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

"I'm standing here and I get to wear black and yellow. There's nothing greater," Popp said to cheers over the stadium loudspeakers.

Growing up, Popp was the only female student at a specialist football school in Gelsenkirchen, home to Dortmund's bitter rivals Schalke.

She made her professional debut at Duisburg before moving to Wolfsburg, where she won 20 trophies including two Champions Leagues, seven league titles and 11 German Cups.

She scored 67 goals for Germany.

Only founded in 2020, the Dortmund women's side sit in second spot in the third division.

Z.AbuSaud--SF-PST