«Footballer of the year»: FC Chelsea attracts Harder

San Sebastian – When Pernille Harder was little she was the only one. “Until I was eleven years old, I played with boys,” the VfL Wolfsburg goalscorer once told the British Guardian.

Back then there was simply no team for girls in their Danish homeland. It didn’t bother her, on the contrary. “Even if I was the only girl, everyone wanted to play with me.” And that has not changed – on Sunday, the 27-year-old, who stood out from a strong VfL team, was named Germany’s “Player of the Year”.

“I’m very proud of it,” said Harder on the day of the Champions League final against Olympique Lyon about the vote carried out by the “kicker” among sports journalists. “This award is a special honor because it is the first time that it has been given to a foreign player.” Since moving to VfL Wolfsburg in 2017, the Danish national player has always been champion and cup winner – but this success story could soon be over.

On Saturday it was leaked that the 27-year-old – one of the most sought-after players in Europe anyway – does not want to fulfill her contract, which will run until 2021. Chelsea are said to pay 350,000 euros for the top attacker. So much has never been offered to a Bundesliga player before. VfL did not confirm the news.

Harder has more in common with Chelsea than just sport. The Dane would be able to play and live again with her Swedish partner Magdalena Eriksson. She has been communicating this heartfelt wish again and again for months. Their professional paths separated in 2017.

For VfL, but also for the Bundesliga and women’s football in Germany as a whole, the early departure of the 1.68 meter tall striker would be a huge loss. It was not for nothing that she was voted the best player of the year by a clear margin over her teammate Alexandra Popp. “She deservedly won this election,” said ex-national player Inka Grings. “For me, Pernille is a world-class player because in her three years at VfL Wolfsburg she played at a very high level and consistently scored her goals.”

Harder stands for sporting and human values ​​like no other. Hard-working, strong-willed, always anxious to get closer to perfection. Always a team player who puts the group, the success of the team above their own fame. Friendly, humble – the Dane could play the leading role in an educational film about successful athletes.

105 hits in 123 competitive games for VfL are a dream result. In the last Bundesliga season alone, she scored 27 times – in 22 games.

In the happily won semi-final of the premier class against FC Barcelona (1-0), Harder remained unusually pale and had no compelling goal area action. For coach Stephan Lerch, who is leaving at the end of the season, no reason to replace them. “Even if it is less than 100 percent, you can feel its presence. If you need this moment to make the difference, she is the player for it, no matter what condition she is in, »Lerch once described one of his three captains.

Harder wants to become the world’s best female footballer one day. For many, not just at VfL Wolfsburg, it is.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200829-99-353899 / 4