BERLIN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Borussia Dortmund has extended Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck's contract until 2031, the Bundesliga club announced after concluding months of talks with the 26-year-old centre-back on Friday.
The agreement ends negotiations that had been running since the end of last year over an extension to Schlotterbeck's previous deal, which had been due to expire in 2027, and gives Dortmund an important boost as it continues to shape the squad.
Dortmund said the renewal was of major importance, with managing director Carsten Cramer stressing the defender's value on and off the pitch. "The contract extension with Nico Schlotterbeck is enormously important. He has great value for us, as a player and as a personality," Cramer said.
Schlotterbeck joined Dortmund from Freiburg in 2022 and has made 155 competitive appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals and providing 18 assists. Since making his Germany debut in 2022, he has also won 25 caps for the national team.
"The officials showed me a good plan and I know what I have at the club," Schlotterbeck said. "I took my time because it was an important decision for me. We always had good talks and it was never a process that was finished after one or two weeks. My goal is to win titles together with Borussia Dortmund."
For this season, however, the Bundesliga is Dortmund's only remaining target after their Champions League exit. It is second with 64 points from 28 matches, nine behind leaders Bayern Munich on 73, while RB Leipzig and Stuttgart both have 53. With six league games left, Dortmund appears well placed to secure its position, even if the title race is close to being decided. ■
