Dortmund boost as Niko Kovac signs until 2029, but Nico Schlotterbeck suffers major injury blow

Niko Kovac commits future to Dortmund until 2029

Manager Niko Kovac, 54, has signed a two-year contract extension, committing his future to Signal Iduna Park until the summer of 2029. The decision comes shortly after Dortmund secured the future of Sporting Director Lars Ricken. The team currently lead the Bundesliga after winning all four of their opening matches this season.

Bayern Munich face €1m payout over Jonas Urbig

The 23-year-old goalkeeper Jonas Urbig is set to make his Germany debut against Serbia in the Nations League under Jürgen Klopp. The appearance will trigger an add-on clause forcing Bayern Munich to pay an additional €1m-plus to FC Cologne. The total value of the January 2025 transfer will rise to a maximum of €15m.

Nico Schlotterbeck suffers serious ankle injury blow

The 26-year-old centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck has withdrawn from the Germany squad after rolling his right ankle in training. An MRI scan confirmed lateral ankle ligament damage, ruling him out of the fixtures against Serbia and Greece. He does not require surgery and has returned to Dortmund to begin rehabilitation.