In an announcement on 16/3, Saarbrucken confirmed that the past season was eventful but successful. The club expressed regret over Zhendong's departure at the season's end. "Though disappointed by his leaving, we are grateful for the rare opportunity to collaborate with an outstanding athlete for one year," the German club stated.

Fan Zhendong (center) signs a one-year contract with Borussia Dusseldorf, to play the 2026-2027 season. *Photo: ETTU*

Following his departure from Saarbrucken, the Chinese player will join Dusseldorf, a team often called the "Bayern Munich of German table tennis", starting 1/7/2026. In his new colors, he will play alongside notable names such as Kanak Jha, Dang Qiu, and Anton Kallberg. He is expected to become the team's new star, one year after legend Timo Boll's retirement.

Zhendong played for Saarbrucken during the 2025-2026 season. Saarbrucken previously described this transfer as a "historic moment." Zhendong is a leading player in China, where table tennis holds immense appeal with passionate fans, sometimes compared to the fervor at Robbie Williams or Taylor Swift concerts.

According to Saarbrucken, the Chinese player's arrival helped the club attract significant attention from the international table tennis community, generating strong interest in Germany, Europe, and beyond. From summer 2025, Saarbrucken even became a frequently searched term on the Internet.

Fan Zhendong serves during a Bundesliga table tennis match against Romain Ruiz in Saarbrucken, Germany on 31/8/2025. *Photo: Xinhua*

In his farewell message, Fan Zhendong stated: "I want to express my sincere gratitude to Saarbrucken for this wonderful opportunity. This has been a special chapter in my career. But at this stage, I feel ready for the next step."

The 29-year-old player also emphasized that Dusseldorf is a strong force in European and world table tennis. He added that his close relationship with Timo Boll was an inspiration for his decision to seek a new challenge.

In a previous interview, Timo Boll praised Zhendong as the greatest player of all time. "Many consider Ma Long the best in history, but for me, it's Fan Zhendong. He is the only player I have never beaten - in eight encounters, I lost all eight," the former German player said.

Fan Zhendong wins the men's singles gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. *Photo: Reuters*

Born in 1997, Zhendong is one of the most outstanding table tennis players from China and globally. He joined the Chinese national table tennis team in 2012 at the age of 15, becoming the team's youngest member.

Zhendong quickly made his mark, becoming the youngest champion of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour and the youngest champion at the World Table Tennis Championships. From December 2013 to December 2024, he consistently ranked among the top 5 players globally by the ITTF, marking the longest continuous 11-year streak in men's singles history.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Zhendong won the men's singles gold medal, becoming the sixth male player in history to complete the table tennis Grand Slam, by winning Olympic, World, and World Cup titles. Additionally, he has secured two Olympic team gold medals, two world championships, and four ITTF Men's World Cup titles.

Zhendong is known for his powerful attacking style, explosive movement, and potent forehand and backhand topspins. In 2025, he won the Big Ben Award for outstanding male table tennis player. The player also has over half a million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

*Hong Duy (according to BILD)*