Defender Mats Hummels will depart Borussia Dortmund after 13 years and 508 appearances over two separate stints.
The 35-year-old reached the Champions League final with Dortmund in the 2012-13 season and once more this year, although they lost to Real Madrid on both occasions.
His departure was announced on the same day Nuri Sahin was appointed as Dortmund’s new manager, taking over from Edin Terzic, who left on Thursday after requesting to terminate his contract.
Club stalwart Hummels shared on the club website, “It was a huge honour and joy for me to have played for BVB for so long and to have been part of the journey from 13th place in January 2008 to what Borussia Dortmund represents today.”
“This club and its fans are something very special – and for me even more than that.”
Hummels initially joined Dortmund on loan from Bayern Munich in 2008, before making the move permanent the following year.
During his time with Dortmund, he won two consecutive Bundesliga titles and the German Cup.
He rejoined Bayern in 2016, securing another German Cup victory, before returning to Dortmund in 2019 and winning the German Cup once again.
Additionally, Hummels was part of the German national team that won the World Cup in 2014.
Sahin promoted to top job
Assistant coach Nuri Sahin has been promoted to head coach of Borussia Dortmund on a three-year contract.
Sahin, who made 274 appearances for Dortmund as a midfielder and won both the Bundesliga title and the German Cup, transitioned into coaching with Antalyaspor after retiring as a player. He returned to Dortmund earlier this year to assist Edin Terzic.
Expressing his gratitude, Sahin described his new role as a “great honor.” Dortmund’s managing director, Lars Ricken, praised Sahin’s qualities and emphasized that he is well-prepared for the high-pressure position.
“We are very pleased to be able to hand over the responsibility of head coach to Nuri as a representative of the younger generation,” said Ricken, who played for the club alongside Sahin.
“He has been committed to preparing for a coaching career in recent years and will take on his new task with a lot of dedication and develop our team. As former team-mates, we will work together in a trusting and ambitious manner.
“Nuri knows the club, its staff and its DNA, both as a player and as an assistant coach. We are convinced that Nuri is the right coach for us.”