Donyell Malen has been named April’s Player of the Month in the Bundesliga. The 24-year-old forward from Borussia Dortmund had a top month and was good for five goals and one assist in five league matches. Malen trumps Benjamin Pavard, Jeremie Frimpong, Josha Vagnoman, Moussa Diaby and Timo Werner, who were also nominated.
It is no surprise that the 21-time international has been voted Player of the Month, as he was involved in the most goals of all players in the Bundesliga in April. The former PSV player is now leading on nine goals and seven assists in 24 league games the Boruses this season. Malen has also had a high return in May so far: after two games, the counter stands at two hits and two assists.
THE in-form player in the #Bundesliga just had to be our #BundesligaPOTM for April! ?? ??
Thoroughly deserved, Donyell Malen! ?? pic.twitter.com/Dgy5aevZNn
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) May 18, 2023
The attacker’s goal contribution has ensured that Dortmund still has a chance to win the title in Germany. The team of coach Edin Terzic is, with two league games to go, one point behind leader Bayern Munich. Dortmund will meet FC Augsburg in an away game this weekend, while the competition will close next Saturday with a home game against FSV Mainz 05. Bayern will face RB Leipzig (home) and 1. FC Köln (away).
Malen exchanged Ajax’s youth academy for that of Arsenal in the summer of 2015, before returning to the Netherlands at PSV two years later. The winger, who went with the the Dutch to the European Championship in the summer of 2021, scored 55 goals and 24 assists in 116 games for the Eindhoven team. His good game in the Signal Iduna Park has not gone unnoticed by Ronald Koeman. “Malen is a player with a lot of depth, which is an extra weapon. Then it is great for me that he 1) plays from the right side and 2) plays well and scores goals. And at a club like Dortmund, then you have everything together,” said the national coach last Sunday Good morning Premier League.