Nico Schlotterbeck provides injury update for Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck has provided an update on his injury recovery, describing his rehabilitation as a ‘long, drawn-out story’. The 26-year-old sustained a medial ligament tear in his left ankle during Germany’s 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage match against Ivory Coast on June 20.

Schlotterbeck revealed that he initially underestimated the severity of the injury and continued to play through the first half of the match before being substituted. The injury caused him to miss the entirety of Dortmund’s pre-season preparations and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Bayern Munich.

While a specific return date has not been confirmed, Schlotterbeck is working closely with physiotherapists and rehabilitation coaches to manage his recovery on a day-to-day basis. Club management had previously hoped for a return around the September or October international breaks. Schlotterbeck expressed cautious optimism, stating, ‘We’re trying to let it heal properly and do good work... Then I believe it won’t take much longer.’