PSV tried to bring back a former star, but without success
1 min readIn the past few weeks, PSV has made an attempt to bring Malik Tillman back to Eindhoven. Tillman left last year for 35 million euros to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, but he may now leave Die Werkself.
PSV watcher Rik Elfrink knows, in fact, that the Germans are only open to a definitive sale of the American. PSV would have liked to take the midfielder over on loan from the Bundesliga club, but Leverkusen won't agree to that.
In the summer of 2023, Tillman joined PSV on a loan basis and grew into an important link for Peter Bosz's team. In the summer of 2024, PSV signed the midfielder permanently from FC Bayern Munich.
Even in the second season, the American was important for PSV. In January 2025, Tillman was injured, which kept him out for two months, and during that period PSV also suffered a significant dip in form, during which they also relinquished the top spot to Ajax.
After the 0-2 home defeat against the Amsterdammers on 30 March 2025, PSV’s title hopes seemed all but over, but then Bosz’s team rose up and managed to win the remaining seven league matches. In addition, from matchday 30 Ajax dropped ten points due to defeats against FC Utrecht (4-0) and NEC (0-3), and draws against Sparta Rotterdam (1-1) and FC Groningen (2-2).
Because of this, after matchday 33 PSV was again at the top, and so heading into matchday 34 they went into the title match away to Sparta Rotterdam. Tillman was important in this, by working the ball past the opposition in the 1-3 and thus definitively driving PSV to their 26th national title.
Two months later the American left for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and his spell went differently than hoped, which means the midfielder is allowed to leave. A return to PSV will not (for now) be coming.
''PSV has certainly tried over the past few weeks to bring Malik Tillman back, but Leverkusen has shut the door hard for a loan. Tomorrow, the transfer window closes in Germany. The Tillman book seems therefore closed...... Or is there yet an addendum? The chance seems almost zero'', PSV watcher Rik Elfrink said on X.
Comments11
Honestly, the timing matters. With only seven matches left when Ajax dropped points, PSV found its gears, and Tillman was crucial in that title pressure. If he is available, fine, if not, we should trust Bosz to build a new midfield link fast. ❤️
"Het boek Tillman lijkt dus dicht...... Of toch een addendum? De kans lijkt bijna nul" lijkt me terecht. Als PSV echt toekomst wil plannen, dan is dit waarschijnlijk het moment om op een andere middenvelder te focussen dan op iemand die per definitie niet te huren is.
"Het boek Tillman lijkt dus dicht" ... bruh transfers are always drama. I get that a loan is denied, but if PSV wanted him, they should have prepared a permanent bid, not wait until deadline day. 👀
0-2 vs Ajax, two months injured, lost the lead... and then he comes back and it clicks again. That run to the 26th title is why this hurts, but the loan refusal is peak Leverkusen behavior. 🤡
0-2 tegen Ajax, koppositie weg... en daarna toch doorpakken. Tillman was toen echt een schakel, en het doet pijn dat het daarna meteen weer kantelt. 😂 Maar als de marktwaarde zo speelt, dan wordt het inderdaad lastig.
"de deur voor een verhuur hard dichtgegooid" zegt genoeg. tbh ik geloof dat Bosz vooral creativiteit en baltempo miste toen Tillman geblesseerd was, dus je voelt dat gemis nu extra.
i still remember him doing the dirty work against Sparta, 1-3 and he was everywhere. If he was key for title 26, why are we not pushing harder now? 🔥
Tillman leaving on a 35 million move and then suddenly "almost zero" chance of a loan feels brutal. But tbh if his wages and role are messy at Leverkusen, I prefer we invest elsewhere.
Tillman terughalen op huur was echt het meest realistische plan, maar als je weet dat hij vorig jaar voor 35 miljoen verkocht is, is Leverkusen niet gek. Jammer, want die goals en duels tegen Sparta lieten zien wat hij kon betekenen. 🔥
That quote about the door hard shut is exactly what scares me. If Leverkusen only want a permanent sale, PSV should stop wasting time on it and move to a Plan B.
Snap ik wel hoor, huur is toch het meest logische als je hem niet wil vastleggen. Als Leverkusen alleen voor definitief gaat, dan is het klaar en ben je als PSV aan het passen naar hun voorwaarden.