Ginter at BVB

In perhaps one of the least surprising transfer moves of the summer, central defender Matthias Ginter has joined Dortmund. "A dream has come true," said the recent World Cup winner to SID. "I've always been a BVB fan and now I get to wear the jersey of my favorite team."

Amidst Germany's World Cup celebrations in Berlin on Tuesday, Kevin Großkreutz quipped that "we'd (Dortmund) have him". Ginter was left smiling but said nothing. Two days later, on Thursday, Ginter's move - one of the most drawn out of the summer - was confirmed. Having joined his favorite club, Ginter himself said he is ready to "take the next step in my sporting development."

At only 20, Ginter has fantastic potential to become one of the country's leading defensive players. Despite not playing in Brazil, the experience the defender will have gathered - he became the youngest ever German to win a World Cup - is priceless.

At the peak of that experience was most likely his new defensive teammate Mats Hummels - perhaps the best defender at the 2014 World Cup. Hummels' monstrous performance in Brazil will have taught the young Ginter a great deal and although many are suggesting that Ginter has been brought in to eventually replace Hummels - Barcelona are rumored to be lurking - it is also feasible to consider the pair forming a future defensive partnership that would suit both club and country.

Of course, the new recruit must battle against the impressive Greek defender Sokratis and the returning Neven Subotic, but the competition will do him, and Dortmund, good.

For a man with only two and a half years of first-team experience, it may seem slightly bold of Dortmund to submit a double-digit fee. Yet with Ginter's remarkable footballing progress beginning at the age of only 11 - when he joined Freiburg - and Klopp's track record of nurturing talent - Sahin, Götze, Durm, Hummels, Lewandowski to name but a few - the move is widely considered shrewd business for the club and an excellent next step for the player.

Klopp knows the signing will immediately strengthen a defensive unit that suffered from a horrible spate of injuries last season. As admirably as the 34-year-old centre back Manuel Friedrich did filling in at the last minute, Ginter's arrival shows that Dortmund are ready to be even more competitive across the board. With Adrian Ramos, Ciro Immobile and Dong-Won Ji adding strength to the attack, Ginter breathes new life into a previously slim set of defensive options.