Imagine playing football in your village with WC winner on your team

"The fish has chosen its new pond until the end of the 2026/2027 season," TuS Eichlinghofen declared late on Thursday — a playful way to unveil their latest addition. And sticking with that aquatic metaphor, the Dortmund amateur side has truly caught a big one: none other than 2014 World Cup champion Kevin Grosskreutz.

The former Dortmund hero has signed a deal running through 2027 and will be eligible to play once the second half of the season begins. “We’re over the moon and proud that he’s so eager to join us,” said TuS head coach Marc Neul in an interview with Ruhr Nachrichten shortly after the news broke.

Grosskreutz, who’s been active in the amateur scene since hanging up his professional boots, has been without a club since September, when he and Wacker Obercastrop — where he served as player-coach — mutually decided to part ways following a poor run of form. Before that, he played for fifth-tier side TuS Bovinghausen. Now, his journey continues in Dortmund’s southwest.

“Kevin has had a soft spot for our club for quite some time. We were already in touch about other things, and from there, this move just naturally took shape,” Neul explained.

At TuS, Grosskreutz isn’t expected to be just another name on the team sheet. Besides helping in league play, where the club sits comfortably mid-table, he’ll also be a key figure in the Dortmund Indoor City Championship — a competition close to the club’s heart.