World Cup winner Hummels leaves Dortmund after 13 years

After 13 years with the team, defender Mats Hummels will depart Borussia Dortmund, the team announced on Friday.

Hummels left the team a day after Edin Terzic, the coach, unexpectedly announced his resignation, just two weeks after leading them to the Champions League final.

Hummels reached the Champions League final in 2013 and 2024, won two league titles, and two German Cups during his two stints at Dortmund.

"Dear supporters, I will be leaving black and yellow behind after more than 13 years. Hummels said in a statement, "Playing for BVB for such a long time was a great honour and joy for me.

"I hope to occasionally be in the stadium and will be cheering from a distance. You will be missed.

Hummels, 35, was selected to the UEFA Team of the Season after turning back the clock during Dortmund's run to the Champions League final this season.

In the run-up to the Wembley final, the centre back openly criticised Terzic's strategies, highlighting the coach's emphasis on defensive rather than offensive football.
Dortmund had been "submissive," according to Hummels, who also felt that his "honour was insulted to stand on the pitch in the (Dortmund) kit."

The 2014 World Cup winner has previously declared that he will continue to play, preferring to join a different German or European club to be near his son, who resides in Munich.
According to German media, Serie A team AC Milan expressed interest in Hummels.

Sebastian Kehl, the sporting director of Dortmund and a teammate of Hummels's, stated, "There is no doubt that we are losing an outstanding personality in Mats Hummels," referring to the defender as "one of the last of his kind in football."

"Throughout his career, Mats not only helped to shape BVB but also elevated the position of central defenders globally. Among the many titles he won with us was the first double in the annals of our club.

In 2016, Hummels moved from Dortmund to his childhood team, Bayern Munich, and then came back in 2019. He departs Dortmund this season along with fellow seasoned player Marco Reus.