Daniel Svensson: marathon man

, signed earlier this year from Danish club FC Nordsjaelland, is only the second Swede to play for Borussia Dortmund after Alexander Isak. He did not need much time to settle in after his arrival in February 2025. “Daniel has fully met our expectations from day one,” says sporting director Sebastian Kehl. “He settled in quickly and immediately enriched our team with his performances.” In the tabloids, Svensson has long been celebrated as a great signing – or an absolute bargain. On and off the pitch, the 23-year-old’s demeanour is reminiscent of a Japanese player, with all the characteristics usually attributed to them: dutiful, eager to learn, extremely focused, calm and open. “He’s a player who was immediately present. One who asks questions when he doesn’t understand something and who got stuck in straight away,” reveals Niko Kovac. For the Dortmund coach, Svensson is a gift. He is something of a model student who absorbs the teaching material like a sponge and implements it with precision. “One of my strengths is my ability to quickly adapt to new levels and styles of play,” says the player in an interview with kicker. (Get your Daniel Svensson jersey now!)

Since 14 October 2024, he has also been able to call himself a senior international – coach Jon Dahl Tomasson recently gave him a place in the starting line-up in the World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia (2-2) and Kosovo (2-0). Tomasson? Yes, that rings a bell. He is no stranger to Dortmund: the Dane was part of the Feyenoord team, coached by Bert van Marwijk, that edged out BVB in the UEFA Cup final on 8 May 2002.

Daniel Svensson was only three months old at the time and, after finishing as a runner-up in the Danish league with Nordsjaelland (2023), now dreams of winning titles with his new employer. Unusually early on, he is being mentioned in the same breath as players who were discovered by Borussia Dortmund as no-names at comparatively small clubs and who quickly became mainstays in Black & Yellow. “His intensity and flexibility fit very well with our game and give us many options,” says sporting director Kehl. He adds: “On top of that, Daniel is also a good guy and an exemplary professional.” Coach Kovac appreciates that the Swede is “very disciplined, very organised and very structured in his thinking.” “I like that very much. He’s a consummate professional through and through.”

When Daniel Svensson heads to the TV studio at the BVB sports office in Brackel for the interview, he has just completed a strenuous training session. He is prepared for a chat with journalists and the subsequent photo shoot with club photographer Alexandre Simoes – but not for the photographer’s creative direction. What initially seems like a routine appointment with a few cleverly lit standing poses turns into an unusual encounter. Eventually, Svensson and Simoes lie on the floor facing each other, eye to eye. Svensson spends the last round of photos in a kind of stable side position, with Simoes opposite him on his stomach, holding the Sony camera in his right hand. As a professional footballer, this is not the first time Svensson has been photographed, “but like this,” he assures us cheerfully, “never before.” During the interview, it had already become clear that he gets to the point quickly and precisely. He is not one for flowery language or long-winded formulations. The pleasantly approachable footballer never gives the impression that he is just going through the motions. But for him, brevity is the soul of wit.

Daniel, what did you know about Borussia Dortmund before you moved here in February?“I knew that BVB were one of the biggest and most historic clubs in Germany. And I had seen a few games – for example, the 2024 Champions League final and a few other Champions League games.”

Moving from Denmark to Germany must have been a big step. Nevertheless, it looked as if it was very easy for you.“I don’t know if it was easy. But one of my strengths is that I’m good at learning and listening, and then I try to put that into practice on the pitch. So far, it’s going great.”

When you made the move, could you have imagined that you would immediately become a regular player and the number one on the left side?“No, of course not. As I said, it’s a big step up from Nordsjaelland to Dortmund. I knew I’d get my chance, but I didn't expect to play so much.

After your first goal for Borussia, you did a somersault in front of the south stand. Will we be seeing that more often now – like we did a few years ago with almost every goal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored?“I don’t know. I used to do it a lot as a child, but against Mönchengladbach it was the first time at this level. Scoring an important goal released a lot of emotions. The somersault afterwards was just instinctive and spontaneous.”

What did you feel at that moment?“It was very special. My first goal for my club. The fans celebrating with me – that intensity was new to me. I was very happy in that moment.”

Dortmund had been watching you for a long time. When did you realise that the transfer was going to happen?“Actually, only a few days before it was finalised. Not before that.”

Did you have to think long and hard about the offer?“No. I didn’t have to think twice. Dortmund is a great opportunity for me. A really big club with so many fans. Ideal for someone who wants to take the next step. Borussia and me – it’s a perfect fit.”

In recent history, two left-backs have become club legends at BVB: Dede, who made an impressive 322 Bundesliga appearances for the club between 1998 and 2011 (12 goals, 47 assists). Then you have Marcel Schmelzer, who made 258 appearances in Germany’s top flight between 2008 and 2022 (three goals, 23 assists), recorded an impressive 367 appearances across all competitions, with seven goals and 34 assists, and even served as BVB captain for two years from 2016 to 2018. Schmelzer has remained with Borussia even after his professional career and now assists coach Daniel Rios with the U23 team, who play in the Regionalliga West after being relegated from the 3. Liga last season.

When Schmelzer saw new left-back Daniel Svensson in action for the first time a few months ago, he had a kind of déjà vu – the feeling of having seen and experienced an event that had already occured. “I thought to myself: this boy somehow reminds me of myself in my early days,” he says. Svensson’s running style and his somewhat shy, reserved and initially “slightly tense” demeanour – it all seemed familiar to Schmelzer, as if he were looking in a rear-view mirror. A series of messages that landed on the 37-year-old’s smartphone reflected this impression. “Many said: We couldn't help but think of you when we saw Svensson,” reports Schmelzer.

As many similarities as there are, the two full-backs differ when it comes to celebrating goals: Schmelzer has never managed a technically perfect somersault like the one Svensson performed after his goal in the match against Mönchengladbach (3-2). “I didn’t even dare to do that at the swimming pool, either from the edge of the pool or from a one-metre board,” he admits with a laugh. And the 16-time international acknowledges something else: “Svensson managed to score his first goal for Borussia Dortmund much faster than I did.”

Schmelzer has taken a liking to the Swede, who was signed for relatively little money and, after an initial loan spell, now has a long-term contract. The former professional is impressed by his diligence, willingness to run and the fact that he “always demands the ball and knows how to handle it”. “He doesn’t shy away from defensive tackles. And he's constantly on alert to clean up danger on his side of the pitch. Svensson is someone who knows exactly what he has to do in his position.” This includes rolling up his sleeves and focusing on hard work as opposed to technical trickery.

Given that “fighter” and “worker” are considered titles of honour in Dortmund, Svensson didn't need long to gain applause at his new club. Players who get their shirts dirty on the pitch, show passion, and step in to clean up the mistakes of others when necessary, are always popular with Borussia fans. “I had heard about that and was able to see it for myself when I arrived,” says Svensson. “The fans like players who give their all.”

His versatility makes him doubly valuable: in the coach’s 3-4-2-1 or 3-3-2-2 system, Svensson is by no means locked into an old-fashioned role of just bombing up and down the flank Svensson’s complex role sees him change positions depending on the situation – he pushes inwards from his high and wide wing position, shows for the ball in central positions and builds momentum for the Black & Yellows with his precise passing. This requires not only a great tactical understanding but also the appropriate athleticism. The hard runner has become a permanent fixture in the team: in the second half of last season, the BVB newcomer made 21 appearances, 12 in the Bundesliga, four in the Champions League and five in the Club World Cup in the USA.

At BVB, you switch between the left flank and central midfield. Was this dual role new to you?“No. At Nordsjaelland, I played in midfield for an entire season, in various roles. I’m also familiar with playing in midfield from my youth.”

But playing both roles during the same match is new?“Not really. I’ve done that before, but it was a bit different than now at this much higher level.”

Do you feel more like a left-back or a midfielder?“More like a left-back, but I also feel comfortable in the centre.”

Do you have a role model when it comes to defending and at the same time helping to drive the game forward in the centre?“There are a few. But David Alaba (currently at Real Madrid, ed.) springs to mind in particular.”

Who do you think is the best left-back in the world at the moment?“It’s difficult to name just one. There are many good ones. But if I had to choose just one: Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, ed.) is pretty good.”

You’re only 23 years old. Where can you still improve?“I’m still young. To be honest, I can still improve in every area. I’ve got a few years and lots of training sessions to do that.”

“Daniel is someone who can play both positions, both at left-back and in the six,” says manager Kovac, adding: “That gives us flexibility, which we take advantage of. He’s also good for us at set pieces. It’s always good to have the option of deliveries from different feet at set pieces.” Kovac’s statement dates back to February of this year, when he and Svensson had only just linked up. Four months later, at the Club World Cup in the United States, Dortmund’s coach renewed his praise for the new signing from Nordsjaelland. “Daniel is a running wonder. I’ve never seen anyone run as much as he does.” Even in the sauna-like temperatures in America, Svensson delivered. His work rate is “unique,” Kovac enthused. “That gives us a certain security at the front and at the back.”

Against Union Berlin (3-0), Svensson covered 13.06 kilometres, and a week later in Heidenheim (2-0), he covered as much as 13.23 kilometres. And not just because the blond-haired player has remarkable stamina, but also because he can run like a sprinter (17 sprints in Heidenheim). Experts consider him to be perhaps the most intense running full-back in the Bundesliga. The fact that he suffered from cramps shortly before the end of his shaky debut in the starting line-up in the Champions League round of 16 playoff away to Sporting Lisbon is now a considered a largely forgotten curiosity. The cramp was due to a long winter break in Denmark and a lack of playing practice, and does not detract from the truth of the statement made by a former teammate at Nordsjaelland. Jeppe Tverskov characterised Svensson as a machine: “He has a good physique and can endure a lot. And he has an extremely high mileage.” This would make Svensson an excellent advert for Sweden’s well-known car brand Volvo. Their durable classic models 140 and 240 achieved mileages of up to one million kilometres between 1966 and 1993. Does he never get tired himself? “Yes,” replies Svensson, “sometimes I do. Especially when we have several games a week. It’s part of my personality: I always want to give 100 percent – and running is part of that.”

The BVB scouts, who monitored Svensson for a long time and even took a close look at him at a training camp run by his former employer FC Nordsjaelland in La Manga, Spain, noted not only his top physical condition, his team-oriented style of play and his precision in crossing, but also his fast and accurate passing. Of the 148 passes Svensson played as a Borussia Dortmund player in the first three matches of the 2025/26 season, 92% reached their intended recipient. He has already picked up eight scorer points in all competitions since February 2025. His statistics for his time at Danish club FC Nordsjaelland show eight goals and 20 assists in 153 games. SIGNAL IDUNA PARK holds more than 81,000 fans, which is a big change to the place Svensson played his football from 2020 until February of this year. “Right to Dream Park”, located in a suburb of Copenhagen and named after a football academy founded in Ghana in 1999, only has a capacity of 10,300 spectators, with 9,800 seats. Emre Mor also played there – in 2016, he was the first professional player Borussia signed from FC Nordsjaelland before Svensson.

Borussia Dortmund and Mor had a rather joyless relationship. After just one season in 2016/17, the Turkish-Danish footballer moved on to Celta Vigo in Spain and was then loaned out a few times (Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Fatih Karagümrük) before ending up at Fenerbahce. Svensson and Borussia have initially agreed to a four-year contract. And that doesn’t mean it has to end there.

Author: Thomas Hennecke Photography: Alexandre Simoes

The text is taken from the member magazine BORUSSIA. BVB members receive BORUSSIA free of charge every month. Click here to access the membership application form.