Marvin Friedrich has left 1. FC Union Berlin after four successful years in Köpenick, signing for Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach.

The defender joined the club in 2018 on a short-term deal before returning to Augsburg. It took Union a couple of days to get a permanent deal over the line and Friedrich returned to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. His time at the club saw Union rise to the Bundesliga – Friedrich scored a header in the first leg of the relegation play-off 2-2 draw in Stuttgart. Urs Fischer's side secured further Bundesliga status before qualifying last season for the UEFA Europa Conference League. After the captain Christopher Trimmel, Friedrich has made the most appearances for the club in the current squad. The 26-year-old made 141 appearances for Union and scored nine times in the colours of the Köpenick club.

"Right from the start I felt comfortable at Union," said Marvin Friedrich ahead of his departure. "Here I became a key player and together with the whole club, we managed to get to the Bundesliga and Europe. Along this journey, I want to thank all of my colleagues, coaches, staff, all of the club's employees and the fans for their support. The last years were hard to describe and I won't forget them."

"Marvin Friedrich's departure is of course a great loss in both sporting and personal terms, but it was Marvin's wish to be able to take this step now. After his outstanding development in recent years, which included our promotion to the Bundesliga, staying in the league and reaching the UEFA Europa Conference League, it is now time for him and for us to embark on a new path. We feel that our team is ready for this. We wish Marvin all the best for his future and thank him for a great time together," added Oliver Ruhnert, 1. FC Union Berlin's Managing Director of Professional Football"