Real Madrid and Man City Both Want Him but Nmecha Has a Clear Favorite

The race for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha is getting crowded. And according to reports out of Germany, the 25-year-old already knows where he’d rather go.

BILD reports that Manchester United and Manchester City are the two most appealing destinations for Nmecha, who has drawn interest from Newcastle United, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid after a strong showing at the World Cup. But a preference has emerged: United and City sit alone at the top of his list. That’s significant when you consider the other clubs circling.

Newcastle is in the mix too, but for different reasons. The club sees Nmecha as a potential replacement for Bruno Guimarães, who has reportedly drawn an offer from Arsenal. That makes sense. But Nmecha’s history with City — he came through their academy and made three senior appearances before moving to Germany — gives the Premier League champs a natural edge. United, on the other hand, has been hunting for midfield help all summer.

Why Nmecha is suddenly this hot

It’s not just the World Cup. Nmecha had a goal and an assist in three group-stage matches for Germany, but his game goes deeper than the box score. At 6-foot-3, he’s the kind of athlete who can bully his way through midfield, but he also has the technical skill to carry the ball from defense into attack. He did that at Wolfsburg and then at Dortmund, and scouts across Europe have taken notice.

Manchester United originally made Mateus Fernandes their priority target after backing away from Elliot Anderson — who, by the way, just became the most expensive British player ever. But Fernandes has proven too expensive for INEOS, who reportedly don’t want to spend more than £80 million on a midfielder from a Championship side. So United’s director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, has been in close contact with Nmecha’s camp in recent days.

The price tag is massive

Dortmund knows what they have. They extended Nmecha’s contract until 2030 before the World Cup, and BILD reports they’re telling suitors not to bother calling unless they’re ready to pay €120 million — that’s around £104 million. That would make Nmecha United’s most expensive signing ever, topping the fee they paid for Paul Pogba.

If that’s too steep, there’s another route. An €80 million release clause kicks in during 2027, and it drops to €70 million the following year. But for clubs that want him now, Dortmund is holding firm.

Nmecha turned 25 in October. He’s entering his prime. He’s already a full Germany international. And he’s playing for a Dortmund side that’s used to selling its best players at a premium. The question is whether United — or City, or anyone else — will blink first.