Schlotterbeck to Dortmund: Is Ginter coming?

Created: 05/02/2022Updated: 05/02/2022, 21:25

Nico Schlotterbeck in action.

© Tom Weller/dpa/archive image

SC Freiburg loses top performer Nico Schlotterbeck.

The central defender switched to Bundesliga competitor Borussia Dortmund a year before the end of his contract.

There is speculation about a prominent successor.

Freiburg – National player Nico Schlottbeck has decided to leave SC Freiburg this summer.

The central defender will leave the Baden Bundesliga club despite the current contract and switch to Bundesliga competitor Borussia Dortmund.

The 22-year-old signed with BVB until June 30, 2027, as both clubs announced on Monday after completing the medical check-up.

The clubs did not announce the details of the contract.

According to media reports, the transfer fee should be 20 million euros plus bonuses.

"I wanted to create clarity for SC Freiburg, Borussia Dortmund and myself personally," said Schlotterbeck.

"It's important to me to be able to fully concentrate on the remaining three games with SC Freiburg in the home stretch of the season, which we hope to play successfully."

With the Sport-Club, Schlotterbeck finally qualified for the European competition on Saturday evening thanks to a 4:3 win at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

There is even a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

In addition, Freiburg are in the DFB Cup final for the first time and will meet RB Leipzig there on May 21.

Schlotterbeck had been associated with a change for weeks.

After Niklas Süle from FC Bayern Munich, Schlotterbeck is BVB's second signing for the coming season.

Both national players should help to stabilize the shaky defense of Borussia, which has already conceded 50 goals in 32 Bundesliga games.

Schlotterbeck was promoted to national team in Freiburg and played a major role in the successful season.

Those responsible for coach Christian Streich had hoped to be able to keep him.

"In view of the contractual constellation, we had to make a balancing decision," said board member Jochen Saier about the service provider, whose contract originally ran until June 30, 2023.

"It's also good for us that there is clarity at an early stage and that we can push ahead with our own squad planning."

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The luck of the fit: Freiburg celebrates coach Streich

Bundesliga: BVB celebrates six goals - Hertha makes up space

A possible successor has already been found.

As the "Bild" newspaper reported, Schlotterbeck's national team colleague Matthias Ginter is about to return to southern Baden.

The people of Freiburg did not want to comment on the speculation.

Mönchengladbach's sporting director Roland Virkus confirmed that Ginter had decided on a new club.

However, he did not say that it was Freiburg.

"We spoke briefly and he told me what he was going to do," Virkus told the DAZN streaming service on Monday evening.

Ginter's contract with Borussia Mönchengladbach expires in the summer.

He would therefore be free of charge.

The 28-year-old made his professional debut in Freiburg in 2012 and played 81 competitive games for the club.

dpa