In a tumultuous offseason for Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga club has parted ways with long-time central defender Mats Hummels, severing ties with one of their iconic players after over a decade of service.
Hummels’ departure comes just a day after head coach Edin Terzic’s surprise resignation despite leading Dortmund to the Champions League final last month. The 35-year-old German international will leave the club he first joined on loan in 2008.
“It was a huge honor and joy to have played for Dortmund for that long and to have followed the path almost entirely from 2008, with the club in 13th place at the time in January 2008, to what Borussia Dortmund is today,” Hummels said.
The veteran center-back has been an integral part of Dortmund’s ascent to the upper echelons of the Bundesliga and European football over the past 15 years. He departs after making 473 appearances across two stints with the club sandwiched around a three-year spell at Bayern Munich from 2016-2019.
During his time at Signal Iduna Park, Hummels helped Dortmund claim two Bundesliga titles, two German Cups including the 2012 double, and reach the 2013 Champions League final against Bayern. He was also a key member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning side.
Dortmund sports director Sebastian Kehl hailed Hummels as “an outstanding personality, maybe the last of its kind in football.”
“During his career Mats did not only leave his mark on the club but also on the global game of central defenders, lifting it to a new level,” Kehl added.
The writing was on the wall for Hummels’ exit after he did not make Germany’s squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament despite a strong season in which he marshaled Dortmund’s defense to the Champions League final. Reports indicate he had a strained relationship with Terzic in recent months.
Nevertheless, his departure marks the end of an era for Dortmund as they undertake a rebuild following their European heartbreak. Losing two long-tenured leaders in Terzic and Hummels presents a challenge, but also an opportunity to reshape the squad with renewed ambition.
As the club prepares for life after Hummels, his legacy as an all-time great for the Black and Yellows is firmly cemented. Few players have meant more to Dortmund over the past decade and a half. C
Dortmund Loses Defensive Stalwart Mats Hummels After 13-Year Stint
