Alexandra Popp could not help but describe her debut for Borussia Dortmund’s women’s squad as "not normal." The German star netted a brace in a 3‑0 victory, but what truly felt extraordinary was the atmosphere created by a crowd of 4,572 spectators in the third tier of German football. Popp is already a household name in Dortmund.
Last season the club’s average attendance hovered at roughly half the figure recorded at the atmospheric Stadion Rote Erde for the match against Arminia Bielefeld. Season‑ticket subscriptions have surged, climbing from about 600 to nearly 1,700 – an almost three‑fold increase that can be traced directly to the arrival of the former Germany captain. The reason for this surge is simple: Popp has come home. This summer the 35‑year‑old, who has scored 67 goals for the national team, signed for the club she supported as a child.
Her homecoming has ignited the imagination of local supporters and sparked a wave of enthusiasm that extends far beyond the women's side. Merchandise bearing her name now outsells even the shirts of Serhou Guirassy, the men’s team’s top scorer for the past two seasons.
When asked about the electric ambiance after her match‑winning performance, Popp said, "It was a very nice atmosphere. We have more than 4,000 people here in the stadium and that is amazing.
I played for many years in the Bundesliga and some stadiums are not so full like that." Her words capture the sense of transformation that Dortmund has undergone. The club did not field a women’s team until 2020, at which point Popp was already a three‑time European champion and a six‑time Bundesliga winner. Starting from the seventh tier, Dortmund’s women have climbed to the third division in a remarkably short period.
On the pitch, however, the level of play is clearly below the standards to which Popp is accustomed. A late‑first‑half cross that found her in the penalty area was met with a decisive header, a moment that felt as inevitable as watching Erling Haaland dominate a youth match.
In that instant she was unstoppable, highlighting the disparity between her experience and the current competition. The move was not purely about footballing challenge. Popp explained that she faced a simple choice: remain at Wolfsburg or join her boy‑hood club, Borussia Dortmund. "The decision did not take long," she said.
Known for her stoic demeanor and relentless drive, Popp admitted that the reaction to her signing has been overwhelming. "It is wonderful. You see the heart of the club and the heart of the fans," she added.
Beyond personal sentiment, Popp sees an opportunity to inspire a new generation. The fact that Germany’s most successful men’s club only established a women’s side in 2020 was, in her view, a shortcoming that needed to be rectified. "I can develop something here," she said, acknowledging the embarrassment of a top‑flight club lacking a female counterpart.
The project is about making up lost time and building a foundation for future success. Despite her superiority, Popp acknowledged that the match was not a walk‑over. Arminia Bielefeld offered stubborn resistance, and she endured some robust challenges. "Some people told me before that I might get fouled.
It is what it is," she laughed. Two Arminia players were booked for fouls against her, and she suggested that more should have been penalised. To counter the physicality, she moved constantly, searching for space and creating opportunities.
When Sky Sports asked about her role on the field, Popp responded with a grin, "Everywhere. No, I have to play on the 10, but I am a player who, when I see space or we need to defend, I run back and help." Her versatility underscores her willingness to adapt to the team’s needs, even if it means dropping deeper than her usual attacking midfielder position. Popp’s presence also alters the dynamic for her younger teammates, many of whom are unaccustomed to the intense media scrutiny that follows a world‑class player.
"Some of them were a bit nervous," she admitted. Among them is Manuela Zinsberger, the former Bayern Munich and Arsenal goalkeeper, who appears set for a quieter season. Nonetheless, the atmosphere in the dressing room remains collegial.
"We have a normal relationship," Popp emphasized. "The young girls speak with me all the time. They are not scared and that is very important.
Sometimes even in the national team, the young girls are scared to tell me something. The girls here are very open." Even without Popp, Dortmund posted a goal difference of over 100 last season, yet they missed promotion by a narrow two‑point margin—both points lost in the April fixture against Arminia. This season, with Popp leading the charge, the ambition is crystal clear: win the league and secure promotion. "The first goal is the championship," she declared.
"I hope that we can make more steps. We have a dream to grow.
We want to be in the first league as fast as we can." Having signed a three‑year contract, Popp is already busy signing autographs and posing for selfies with fans of all ages. Her ultimate aim is to bring Dortmund back to the Frauen‑Bundesliga, the top tier where she believes she belongs. Yet, for now, she is simply home, playing the game she loves in front of a crowd that finally feels the weight of her legacy.
The story of Alexandra Popp’s return to Dortmund illustrates how a single player can ignite a cultural shift, boost attendance, and inspire a club’s youth. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the former German captain to see whether her presence can translate ambition into tangible promotion and cement Dortmund’s place among Europe’s elite women’s clubs.