Singapore footballer joins Borussia Dortmund women’s team, puts studies on hold to pursue career

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s first female footballer to play in Europe has now joined one of the biggest names in the global game.

At 18 years old, Danelle Tan is set to sign for German team Borussia Dortmund, after playing for the London Bees in England for about three months.

Her move to the Borussia Dortmund women’s team, Borussia Dortmund Frauen, takes her another step closer to her dream of becoming a professional footballer.

She will join the club for its pre-season fixtures from July.

Danelle is the German side's first female signing from Asia.

Having been formed just two years ago, the club currently sits in the fifth tier of German football, after securing back-to-back championships.

Danelle wants to be the main striker of a team that eventually breaks into the top tier, helping her secure a full-fledged professional contract.

"I think I can really grow and thrive as a player. The professionalism at the club is something that is really attractive to me, and so it's definitely somewhere that I want to be in the long term,” she said. 

“Hopefully when they are promoted to the Bundesliga in four years’ time, hopefully then I'll be the number nine,” said Danelle, referring to the top-tier German league and the jersey number typically worn by a team’s main striker.

Dr Suresh Letchmanan, Borussia Dortmund’s managing director in the Asia Pacific, told CNA that Danelle is regarded as one of the brightest talents in women’s football both in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

She had impressed during a trial which came about from a youth development partnership between the German club and Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors.

“Danelle is like an ambassador, not just for Singapore, not just for Asia, but generally for women's