DORTMUND, Germany (AP) \u2014<\/p>\n
Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck has ended speculation about a possible move to Real Madrid by extending his contract with the German club until 2031.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old Schlotterbeck, who only had another year on his existing contract with Dortmund, signed a new deal on Friday, the club announced.<\/p>\n
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Dortmund chief executive Carsten Cramer said the extension is \u201cof enormous significance. He is of great value to us, both as a player and as a person. And Nico, in turn, knows exactly what he has in our club. He is highly valued and senses that we are building something here right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schlotterbeck, a Germany international, joined Dortmund from Freiburg in 2022 and has played 155 competitive games for the team.<\/p>\n
Negotiations over a new deal dragged on as Dortmund announced other players\u2019 extensions and confirmed some players would leave. Team captain Emre Can signed a contract extension despite being out injured<\/a> for the rest of the season, while Julian Brandt<\/a>, Salih \u00d6zcan and Niklas S\u00fcle will leave at the end of the season.<\/p>\n Talks stalled when Dortmund announced the immediate departure of sporting director Sebastian Kehl<\/a> last month, but his successor, Ole Book from second-division team Elversberg<\/a>, evidently made Schlotterbeck\u2019s uncertain future one of his first priorities.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cIn Nico, we have one of the best center-backs in the world in our ranks,\u201d Book said. \u201cHis play with and without the ball, his distribution, his tackling, together with his presence and determination on the field, all of this makes him incredibly valuable to us. We\u2019re certain that we can achieve great things together with Nico at Borussia Dortmund.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n