VIENNA, AUSTRIA - JULY 13: Sebastian Rode of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the friendly match between Austria Wien and Borussia Dortmund at Generali Arena on July 13, 2018 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

Where are they now? How former Borussia Dortmund players have fared since leaving the club in the summer

Where are they now? How former Borussia Dortmund players have fared since leaving the club in the summer by Tushar Bahl

Borussia Dortmund have announced that Sebastian Rode has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan until the end of the season.

Rode joined Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2016 for 12 million euros but failed to establish himself as a regular in the team during any of his three seasons with the club. In his first season, Rode made 21 appearances, but then a string of injuries meant that he missed the entirety of last season. The midfielder has fallen out of favor under Lucien Favre and has failed to make a single first team squad this season.

Rode has been limited to two appearances for Borussia Dortmund II this season and his last competitive appearance for the first team came in the DFL Supercup against Bayern at the start of last season.

And now he makes his return to Eintracht Frankfurt, four and a half years after his initial departure from the club. Rode spent four years in his first spell with the Eagles and helped them qualify for the Europa League in the 2012-13 season. The midfielder made a total of 94 appearances in all competitions for Eintracht, before moving to Bayern Munich at the end of his contract in 2014.

Rode’s contract with Borussia Dortmund expires in 2020, so his future is likely to be re-evaluated come the end of the season.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said, “We thank Sebastian Rode for his commitment to this day and wish him much health and match practice for his time at Eintracht.”

Things haven’t worked out too well for him since, but Rode is still only 28 and has still plenty of time to get back to his best and reestablish himself. Let’s hope that his return to Eintracht Frankfurt will give Rode the fresh start he needs in order to resurrect his career.