Borussia Dortmund Niko Kovač praises American teen Mathis Albert

In the bustling streets of Tokyo, Borussia Dortmund Niko Kovač watched American teenager Mathis Albert weave past defenders, his speed and aerial strength catching the eye. The 17‑year‑old’s performances during the club’s pre‑season preparations have earned him high praise from the head coach.

Albert, 17, made his Bundesliga debut for Dortmund late last term, becoming a United States youth international in the process. The appearance marked his first step into top‑flight football.

He later got on the scoresheet in a friendly defeat to Fortuna Düsseldorf, scoring despite the side losing the match. The goal demonstrated his attacking instinct against strong opposition.

Dortmund secured a 1‑0 friendly victory over FC Tokyo on Saturday, and Kovač highlighted the American’s all‑round qualities. "You can see what abilities he has. He's fast, strong in the air, and I have to say he put in a lot of effort," the coach explained.

Kovač’s demanding style places a premium on work rate and defensive discipline, standards that Albert says have significantly improved his game. The teenager believes the higher expectations have helped him raise a certain aspect of his play.

"It has helped me take a certain aspect of my game to a new level," Albert said. "Before, I wasn't the best in some areas, but this has motivated me to work much harder. There are higher demands, such as the work rate and the space that needs to be covered, especially in the new, more central position. This has definitely helped my game a lot."

The USA youth international also voiced his long‑term ambitions at Signal Iduna Park. "My dream is to become an important player for the club and to stand out, to be a true leader and help the team win games," he told Sky.

Dortmund will return from Japan on 2 August before friendlies against Arsenal and Roma, where the former LA Galaxy academy talent will look to continue his encouraging pre‑season form ahead of the new campaign.

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