Schlotterbeck to leave for free in 2027 like Lewandowski? | OneFootball

The hopes of fans and officials that Nico Schlotterbeck will sign a new contract with Borussia Dortmund are unlikely to be fulfilled, at least in the short term. The central defender has received an initial contract offer from BVB until 2030, but he also has other options and wants to decide in the new year.

Knowing the strong sporting and financial competition, which is said to include top clubs from England as well as FC Bayern Munich, the BVB bosses are leaving no stone unturned and are focusing especially on emotional factors. This includes a conversation between Schlotterbeck and club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke, who showed the national player a possible path to becoming a world star in Dortmund, using Mats Hummels as an example.

Transfer in Summer 2026 Not Certain if Decision is Against BVB

If Dortmund's efforts are not successful and Schlotterbeck decides against extending his contract with Borussia, a departure next summer, and thus a year before the current contract ends on June 30, 2027, is by no means certain.

According to information from "Sport Bild," BVB could activate an emergency scenario and keep Schlotterbeck until the expiration of the current contract in 2027, accepting a free transfer departure—similar to Robert Lewandowski, whose move to FC Bayern Munich was already clear in 2013, but who was only allowed to transfer to the Isar in 2014 and for free.

This model could come into play if BVB sees the sporting success threatened by Schlotterbeck's departure in the summer of 2026, to which some revenues are tied. If Dortmund officials see the financially necessary qualification for the Champions League at risk without Schlotterbeck and expect higher bonus payments in the Champions League and from sponsors with the defensive chief, waiving a transfer fee is conceivable.

Of course, everyone in Dortmund would prefer not to have to consider such scenarios further and for Schlotterbeck to extend his contract with BVB.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.