Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Part 2)

Mkhitaryan continued to showcase his talent in the league, scoring his first league goal for Metalurh Donetsk in a 2–2 draw with Karpaty Lviv on 26 July 2009. His contributions were not limited to the domestic league, as he also found success in European competition, scoring in a 3–0 Europa League win against Interblock Ljubljana on 6 August 2009.
In the following season, Mkhitaryan's leadership qualities and on-field performances earned him the captain's armband at Metalurh Donetsk, making him the youngest captain in the club's history at the age of 21. He continued to lead by example, scoring crucial goals for the team, including an 89th-minute penalty in a 3–0 victory over Obolon Kyiv on 16 July 2010.
Mkhitaryan's time at Metalurh Donetsk came to an end after his final match for the club, a 2–1 win against Dnipro on 30 August 2010. Throughout his tenure, he made 45 appearances for Metalurh, scoring a total of 16 goals, with 12 of those goals coming in league competitions. His contributions on the field solidified his reputation as a talented and prolific midfielder, laying the foundation for his future successes at higher levels of football.


Henrikh Mkhitaryan's move to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2010 marked a significant step in his career, as he joined the reigning Premier League champions for a reported $7.5 million fee. Despite initially being rejected by Iran Pro League side Mes Kerman, Mkhitaryan quickly found success at Shakhtar Donetsk.
His debut for Shakhtar came on 10 September 2010 in a league match against Obolon Kyiv, where he played for 62 minutes before being substituted. Mkhitaryan's home debut was more memorable, as he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 victory over Tavriya Simferopol on 19 September 2010. He continued to make an impact, scoring crucial goals including a late winner against Metalist Kharkiv on 25 September 2010.


Mkhitaryan's contribution extended to European competitions as well, as he made his Champions League debut for Shakhtar against Sporting Braga on 28 September 2010. His first season with Shakhtar was highly successful, as the club won the treble, including the Premier League, Ukrainian Cup, and the Super Cup. In the following season, Mkhitaryan continued to excel, helping Shakhtar to win the Premier League and the Ukrainian Cup once again. He scored important goals throughout the season, including the equalizer against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and the only goal in a cup victory over Metalurh Zaporizhya. Mkhitaryan's contributions did not go unnoticed, as he was voted as the best player of Shakhtar in the 2011–12 Premier League season.
Overall, Mkhitaryan's time at Shakhtar Donetsk was characterized by his impressive performances on the field, where he showcased his goal-scoring ability and played a crucial role in the club's success in both domestic and European competitions.


Henrikh Mkhitaryan continued his remarkable form for Shakhtar Donetsk during the 2012–13 season, making significant contributions in both domestic and European competitions.
In the 2012 Super Cup victory over Metalurh Donetsk, Mkhitaryan played a pivotal role as Shakhtar secured a 2–0 win. His impact was evident from the outset of the league campaign, as he scored twice and provided two assists in a commanding 6–0 victory against Arsenal Kyiv in the season opener.
Mkhitaryan's goal-scoring prowess was further demonstrated with a hat-trick against Chornomorets Odesa, helping Shakhtar to a resounding 5–1 win and reaching 10 goals for the season after just six games. He continued his stellar performances in the Champions League, scoring twice in a 2–0 victory over Nordsjælland, marking his first goals in the competition and earning the Man of the Match award.


Throughout the season, Mkhitaryan's consistency and skill were evident as he reached significant milestones, including playing his 100th game in the Ukrainian Premier League against Chornomorets Odesa. His standout moment came on 11 May 2013, when he scored his 23rd and 24th goals of the Premier League season in a 5–0 victory over Tavria. These goals set a new Ukrainian Premier League record for most goals in a season, highlighting Mkhitaryan's prolific scoring ability and earning him widespread acclaim for his technique and dedication.
Overall, Mkhitaryan's performances during the 2012–13 season firmly established him as one of the top talents in Ukrainian football, further enhancing his reputation as a key player for Shakhtar Donetsk.


Borussia Dortmund made a bid of €23 million ($30 million) for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, seeking to secure his services for the upcoming season. However, Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin indicated that the offer did not meet the club's valuation, which stood at a single payment of €30 million.
Subsequently, negotiations between Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar Donetsk ensued, with reports emerging on 5 July 2013 suggesting that the German club had made progress in talks with Mkhitaryan. It was reported that Mkhitaryan was en route to Germany for a medical examination, indicating that a transfer was imminent.


Borussia Dortmund officially announced that they had reached an agreement to sign Mkhitaryan on a four-year deal for a fee of €25 million. The total transfer fee eventually settled at €27.5 million , making Mkhitaryan the most expensive acquisition in Borussia Dortmund's history at that time.
The resolution of the transfer formalities marked the beginning of Mkhitaryan's tenure with Borussia Dortmund, where he was expected to contribute significantly to the club's ambitions in both domestic and European competitions.


In his debut for Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly against FC Basel on 10 July 2013, Henrikh Mkhitaryan made an immediate impact by setting up a goal for Marco Reus in the 11th minute and scoring his first goal for the club just 16 minutes later. This stellar performance contributed to Dortmund's 3–1 victory away at St. Jakob-Park.
Unfortunately, Mkhitaryan was unable to participate in the 2013 DFL-Supercup as he sustained an injury in a friendly game prior to the tournament. However, he made his Bundesliga debut for Dortmund on 18 August 2013, following his recovery from a three-week injury layoff. He featured in a home victory over Eintracht Braunschweig at Signal Iduna Park.
Mkhitaryan's impact in the Bundesliga was immediate, as he scored his first two league goals in a crucial 2–1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, helping Dortmund maintain their position at the top of the Bundesliga table. Additionally, he notched his first Champions League goal for Dortmund in a 2–1 away victory against Arsenal.


By the end of the season, Mkhitaryan had amassed nine goals and provided ten assists in the Bundesliga, earning recognition as one of the standout performers. He was included in the WhoScored Bundesliga Team of the Season for his impressive contributions. Despite his individual success, Dortmund finished as runners-up in both the 2013–14 Bundesliga and the 2013–14 DFB-Pokal, falling just short of securing major silverware.
Mkhitaryan's tenure at Borussia Dortmund saw him clinch his first trophy with the club, the 2014 DFL-Supercup, where he played a pivotal role by scoring the opening goal in the 2–0 victory over Bayern Munich.


Throughout his Dortmund career, Mkhitaryan faced injury setbacks, including a significant one in September 2014 that sidelined him for a month. Despite these challenges, he continued to make significant contributions on the field. On 28 February 2015, he found the back of the net with the second goal in a 3–0 win against rivals Schalke 04.
One of his standout performances came on 6 August 2015, in a Europa League match against Wolfsberger AC. Mkhitaryan delivered a memorable hat-trick, securing a 5–0 victory for Dortmund (6–0 on aggregate) in Thomas Tuchel's first home match as coach. Just three days later, he scored another goal in a 2–0 win against Chemnitzer FC in the DFB-Pokal.

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