Borussia Dortmund II have etched their name into Premier League International Cup history, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Real Madrid Castilla in the final. The win marks a significant milestone for the German side, who join Bayern Munich as the only Bundesliga clubs to lift the trophy since Bayern's triumph in the 2018/19 season.

The match burst into life inside the opening ten minutes, as Dortmund executed a slick counter-attack that began with goalkeeper Aaron Held. The move culminated in a stunning finish from Taycan Etcibasi, who latched onto Enzo Duarte's first-time assist to slot home with clinical precision. The goal propelled Etcibasi to the top of the tournament's scoring charts, edging past RB Leipzig's Yohan Ngatcheu and Manchester United's James Scanlon with five goals in six appearances.

Real Madrid Castilla, fielding a squad largely composed of players from their recent UEFA Youth League triumph, dominated possession and created numerous chances throughout the contest. However, they found themselves repeatedly frustrated by Dortmund's disciplined defensive setup, orchestrated by manager Daniel Rios. The tension boiled over in injury time as a brief scuffle erupted between the two sets of players, but Dortmund held firm to secure the win.

This victory makes Dortmund the second German club to conquer the Premier League's U23 competition, further cementing the growing reputation of German youth development on the international stage. It also marks the second consecutive season that a German player has finished as the tournament's top scorer, following Ensar Aksakal's six-goal haul for Hertha Berlin last term. Etcibasi, an 18-year-old striker who made the bold move from Dortmund's fierce rivals Schalke in 2024, scored in every match except a 2-0 group-stage loss to Manchester United, showcasing remarkable consistency for a player his age.