Mats Hummels will leave Borussia Dortmund when his contract expires at the end of this month, the Champions League finalists confirmed today.
The 35-year-old defender has made over 500 appearances for Dortmund either side of a three-year spell at Bayern Munich. He helped the club to the Bundesliga title in 2010 and 2011.
The announcement that he will leave Signal Iduna Park comes just a day after the departure of coach Edin Terzic, with whom he is reported to have had a fractious working relationship.
Hummels told the club’s official website: “It was a huge honour and a joy for me to play for BVB for such a long time, and to be almost ever-present on the journey from 13th place in the table in January 2008 to what Borussia Dortmund represents today.
“This club and its fans are special – and for me they’re much more than that.
“I would also like to thank all the staff at BVB, who do outstanding work for this club, plus of course the countless fantastic coaches and team-mates I have worked and played alongside.
“I hope that I can see you all again celebrating on Borsigplatz as soon as possible. Until then, I will be cheering for this club from afar – and hopefully often in the stadium as well. I will miss you all.”
Thank you, Mats 💛 pic.twitter.com/LyqOYQtHNH
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) June 14, 2024
An outstanding personality – Kehl
Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl added: “In Mats Hummels we are without doubt losing an outstanding personality, maybe one of the last of its kind in football.
“Mats hasn’t just had a huge impact on Borussia Dortmund throughout his career – he has also taken the art of being a centre-back to a whole new level around the world.
“He has won trophies with us, not least the first double in our club’s history. On top of that, Mats is a genuine guy who demands the best from himself and others at all times. I would like to thank him for his passion, for his will to win, and also for his idiosyncrasies.
“Everyone at BVB wishes Mats all the very best in his professional and personal future. I personally have held him in high esteem for many, many years, and I will always have a bond with him.”
Hummels has indicated he would like to carry on playing and is hoping to get fixed up with a club in Europe having ruled out a move to either Saudi Arabia or the United States.
