Witsel in line for Dortmund debut and an update on Weigl's fitness | OneFootball

Axel Witsel and Borussia Dortmund can relax after the midfielder was finally given his playing license on Friday.

There had been some delays surrounding the Belgian, with former club Tianjin Quanjian disputing the legitimacy of the transfer. However, Dortmund confirmed on Saturday they have finally received clearance to use him and he could make his debut on Monday evening.

Witsel, 29, cost Dortmund €20m this summer and is now in line to feature when the club begin their season against Greuther Fürth in the DFB Pokal.

The inclusion of Witsel is all the more likely as Julian Weigl remains out. The German midfielder returned to action in a training ground friendly on Friday but is not ready to feature for the first team.

“He played 60 minutes with the youth players yesterday,” head coach Lucien Favre said. “He’s slowly getting there but he still needs some time.

“He will need another few days or weeks, that’s for sure.”

Dortmund face second tier club Fürth in the first round of the German Cup on Monday before kicking off their Bundesliga season against RB Leipzig next Sunday.