Dortmund midfielder favours Etihad homecoming
Felix Nmecha would prefer a return to Manchester City over other suitors, with reports from Germany suggesting the former academy graduate has his sights set on a Premier League homecoming.
The 25-year-old, who came through the City Football Academy and made three senior appearances before departing for VfL Wolfsburg in 2021, is understood to view both Manchester clubs as more appealing than Newcastle United, who have also entered the race.
According to Bild, Nmecha's personal preference is firmly oriented toward a return to the city where his professional career began. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have also been credited with interest, broadening the field of clubs monitoring the midfielder's situation.
Contract complications
Any potential move this summer is complicated by Nmecha's contractual position at Signal Iduna Park. The Germany international recently extended his deal with Dortmund until 2030, with no release clause currently active for the ongoing window.
Reports indicate an €80 million release clause will become active in 2027, dropping to €70 million in 2028. That timeline gives Dortmund considerable leverage in any negotiations and may ultimately determine when a transfer becomes financially viable for interested parties.
Nmecha's performances at the ongoing World Cup with Germany have accelerated speculation, drawing admiring glances from Europe's most prominent clubs. The midfielder left City for Wolfsburg in 2021, spent two seasons there, and earned a move to Dortmund in 2023, where he has developed into one of the Bundesliga's more dynamic central midfielders.
Whether Dortmund's contractual position allows a summer deal, or whether City and Nmecha must wait until the release clause activates in 2027, remains the central obstacle in what could become one of the more compelling transfer stories of the window.