18-year-old Danelle Tan, a football player from Singapore achieved yet another remarkable feat by joining Borussia Dortmund’s (BVB) women’s team, making history as the first Singaporean and Asian player to do so.
The official announcement of Tan’s signing was made by BVB on Jun. 9, 2023, via their Instagram account. Prior to the announcement, there were hints about Tan’s arrival, creating excitement and anticipation among the fans.
The Football Association Singapore (FAS) confirmed the news through a tweet, revealing that Tan has signed a one-year contract with BVB, set to commence in July 2023. As per FAS, Tan will join the team for pre-season training before the start of the new season in August 2023.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Tan took to Instagram, sharing her excitement about starting her journey with the new team. Even Emma the Bee, BVB’s official mascot, welcomed Tan to the BVB women’s squad in an Instagram story.
Tan had already made history earlier this year when she became the first Singaporean woman to play in a European league. On Feb. 5, 2023, she made her debut for the London Bees, coming on as a substitute at half-time. In a May 2023 interview with Mothership, Tan mentioned that she scored two goals in five games during her time with the London Bees.
Since January 2022, Tan has been residing in London, where she is pursuing her studies at Mill Hill School. She is currently preparing for her A-level examinations scheduled for this year.
In addition, Tan achieved a significant milestone in November 2022 by becoming the first Singaporean to be accepted into a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 football program, known for its prestigious status in the U.S. She is set to join the College of William and Mary in 2024, where she will be part of their Division 1 team and benefit from a partial athletics scholarship.
Danelle Tan has done it again – the 18-year-old forward has joined Borussia Dortmund's women's team, making her the FIRST ASIAN player to do so 🙌
— FAS (@FASingapore) June 9, 2023
📸: Courtesy of Borussia Dortmund Frauen pic.twitter.com/vyTwcfsBgB