Mahmoud Dahoud’s Resurgence at Eintracht Frankfurt

In the midst of player departures from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer, it seemed that Mahmoud Dahoud’s career, once marked by promise, was facing yet another disappointing chapter. Since his ill-fated move to Brighton in the summer of 2023, where he struggled to make an impact, Dahoud’s journey has been tumultuous.

The former Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund midfielder found himself unable to secure a spot with the Seagulls, leading to a loan return to VfB Stuttgart during the latter half of the 2023/24 season. Despite a brief resurgence, including a goal off the bench, Dahoud managed to start only once under head coach Sebastian Hoeneß.

Following the termination of his contract with Brighton after the season, Dahoud joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer in the summer of 2024. The transition was marked by an emotional press conference, during which he switched his international allegiance back to Germany after a challenging period with Syria.

Under the guidance of head coach Dino Toppmöller, Dahoud began to earn regular playing time. Both Toppmöller and sporting director Markus Krösche praised him after an impressive performance against VfL Bochum on matchday nine, where he scored a goal and provided an assist, seemingly signaling a comeback.

However, this optimism proved to be short-lived. After the initial success, Dahoud made only two more league starts and had limited appearances throughout the 2025 calendar year, leading to speculation about his future at the club.

Despite being cleared to leave and not being a significant presence during training camp, Dahoud unexpectedly appeared as a starter against Mainz on matchday ten, showcasing resilience. He followed up with a solid performance against Köln, where he netted his 14th career Bundesliga goal, evoking a sense of déjà vu among reporters.

Once again, Toppmöller and Krösche lauded Dahoud’s contributions, echoing sentiments from a year prior about his potential resurgence. The future remains uncertain, but it appears Dahoud will be granted more opportunities.

“He deserves it because he has simply kept at it over the last few months and has always been there for the whole group, despite his difficult situation,” Toppmöller remarked in an interview with Sport Bild. “He always gave his all in training and never backed down. He played a decent game against Mainz, and this time it was all the more satisfying that he had this sense of achievement.”

Krösche added, “He’s had difficult spells in his career before and has learned to navigate through them. I believe that experience is beneficial. He has consistently given his best and made himself available. Now, he’s been afforded another chance.”

GGFN | Peter Weis