Mario Goetze heads back to Borussia Dortmund

This file photo taken on November 5, 2011 shows then Dortmund's midfielder Mario Goetze celebrating scoring during the German first division Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in the western German city of Dortmund. Goetze will go back to his former club Borussia Dortmund for the 2016/17 season. PHOTO | PATRIK STOLLARZ |

By  AFP

What you need to know:

  • The 24-year-old has never established himself with the German champions.
  • The clubs did not give a transfer fee but Bild newspaper said Dortmund paid between 22 and 25 million euros ($24-27.5 million).
  • That would mean Bayern have booked a loss of about 13 million euros on the price they paid for Goetze.
  • Goetze scored the winning goal in Germany's World Cup final triumph over Argentina in 2014.

BERLIN

Germany's World Cup winning goalscorer Mario Goetze has returned to Borussia Dortmund after a frustrating three seasons with Bayern Munich, the clubs announced Thursday.

The 24-year-old has never established himself with the German champions. The clubs did not give a transfer fee but Bild newspaper said Dortmund paid between 22 and 25 million euros ($24-27.5 million).

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That would mean Bayern have booked a loss of about 13 million euros on the price they paid for Goetze.

Bayern president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge called the deal "a good solution for all sides".

Goetze scored the winning goal in Germany's World Cup final triumph over Argentina in 2014. But under Pep Guardiola, he was often on the Bayern substitutes' bench.

He was also often among the replacements for Germany at Euro 2016.

Bayern's new coach Carlo Ancelotti had hinted in recent weeks that he has told Goetze to find a new club.

Dortmund fans repeatedly jeered Goetze when he appeared for Bayern against his old team.

The player said he now has "a different view" of his decision to move.

"I want to try to convince everyone with my performances, especially those who are welcoming me with open arms," he said.

In recent weeks, Dortmund have lost defender Mats Hummels to Bayern, midfielder Henrich Mkhitaryan to Manchester United and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester City.

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