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SportsBorussia Mönchengladbach winger Nathan Ngoumou excluded from friendly squad, future uncertain
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Borussia Mönchengladbach winger Nathan Ngoumou was left out of the squad for a 2-1 pre-season friendly win against third-division Rot-Weiss Essen on July 26, 2026. Coach Eugen Polanski stated the decision was due to squad depth, with multiple players occupying each position, and that Ngoumou was not injured or in transfer negotiations. The 26-year-old, who holds a contract until 2027 and recently became eligible for Cameroon, has received vague inquiries from Anderlecht and clubs in France and Poland, but no concrete transfer is imminent. His lack of playing time in friendlies complicates potential moves, as interested clubs want to see current performance data after his long injury layoff. The exclusion signals Ngoumou is no longer part of Gladbach's plans.
Source report
Overview
In Borussia Mönchengladbach's second pre-season test match — a 2-1 victory on Saturday against third-division side Rot-Weiss Essen, watched by 8,821 spectators — head coach Eugen Polanski (40) deployed a total of 24 players. Nathan Ngoumou (26) was notably absent from the squad.
Missing Players
Alongside Ngoumou, several other players were unavailable for selection:
- Zento Uno (21) — still recovering from injury
- Tomas Cvancara (25) — still recovering from injury
- Jens Castrop (22) — load management
- David Herold (23) — slight muscle problems
Ngoumou's Situation
Unlike the other absent players, Ngoumou was neither injured nor away for transfer negotiations. Polanski simply had no squad place available for him.
The French-born player, who is now eligible to represent the Cameroon national team, remains under contract with Gladbach until 2027.
Coach's Statement
Polanski explained the decision:
"It's simply that I currently have so many players and I also want and need to distribute the minutes to get them into a rhythm. It was already agreed with Nathan that his comeback after the long injury would work against Wuppertal. But unfortunately, some positions with us are even triple-occupied, not just double-occupied. If we don't have any major injuries, then it affects players who can't get playing time."
Transfer Outlook
According to BILD information, Ngoumou has received some vague inquiries from:
- Anderlecht
- Two clubs from France
- One club from Poland
However, no concrete transfer offer has materialised. The situation presents a dilemma: without playing time in Borussia's pre-season friendlies, Ngoumou cannot showcase his form to potential suitors. Following his lengthy injury layoff, interested clubs are reportedly seeking evidence of his current performance level before committing to a signing.
Source
BILD - SportWestern
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Nathan Ngoumou Excluded from Borussia Mönchengladbach Squad, Future Uncertain