After a stop-start beginning to life back in Germany, the England Under-21 international is now showing why the club were so keen to bring him back from Chelsea on a permanent deal.

Chukwuemeka rejoined Dortmund last summer on a five-year contract after impressing during his loan spell in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign. He told the club's TV channel at the time that he wanted to "be the best version of myself" in 2025/26. After a slow start, that promise is now being realised.

The 22-year-old has started Dortmund's last three Bundesliga matches, collecting seven points in that run. His first league goal of the season came in the 1-1 draw with Hamburger SV, where only a stoppage-time equaliser denied him a perfect ending. "Thank God the ball went in. I was very happy," Chukwuemeka told BVB-TV after the match. "It's super frustrating! We stopped playing after the first goal. That wasn't good enough."

His frustration has fuelled improvement. In his recent performances, Chukwuemeka has completed 87 per cent of his passes, won 55 per cent of his duels, and covered an average of seven miles per match. His blend of control, work rate and attacking drive has made him one of Niko Kovac's key players.

Dortmund have been unbeaten in Chukwuemeka's last three Bundesliga starts, winning two of them. Remarkably, the team kept a clean sheet in each of his previous two league starts this season before conceding late against HSV.

Kovac, who took charge in January 2025, praised the midfielder's development. "The way he takes the ball and carries it, the way he immediately turns in the direction of play, that is really unique," the coach said.

"He's developed well, both physically and defensively. He's not quite at his best yet, but we'll keep working on it."

Having joined permanently just days before the season began, Chukwuemeka took time to reach full fitness, but his influence is now clear. Dortmund sit third in the Bundesliga table, and with Chukwuemeka finding rhythm and confidence, they look increasingly like genuine title challengers once again.

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