El Mala or Zufall? Why Borussia Dortmund’s number 10 stays vacant

Since Julian Brandt’s Abschied for Ajax Amsterdam, the iconic number 10 shirt at Borussia Dortmund has remained unfilled, prompting a wave of speculation among the BVB faithful who wonder whether the vacancy is deliberate or merely a coincidence in the current season.

The Rückennummer 10 has long been associated with Dortmund’s most creative talents, making its vacancy especially noticeable. Since Brandt’s exit, the club has not announced any replacement, leaving the Nummer open as a blank on the squad list.

Fans have launched endless Spekulationen on forums and social media, asking if the empty shirt is an El Mala or simply Zufall, and deshalb the club has remained silent. The debate underscores how much the jersey means to the BVB community.