Dortmund defender being considered by Real Madrid

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One of the most promising defenders in the Bundesliga might not be part of Germany’s top-level association football league for long. Real Madrid are currently looking for new players to improve their performance in 2026 and beyond. The Spanish club have reportedly been eyeing up Borussia Dortmund’s defender Nico Schlotterbeck.

This sort of thing happens all the time in professional football. Many players switch clubs multiple times throughout their careers for all sorts of reasons. Changes in a team’s line-up can make live sports betting considerably more exciting and unpredictable for punters. This is because there’s no telling how a new addition might affect a team’s performance. A club can also benefit from having one or more new players as its rankings might improve.

Real Madrid’s Defender Issues

Real Madrid are keen to invest in a highly rated centre back. This is because the club could be facing some significant departures in the not-so-distant future. David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger’s contracts are due to expire soon. This may result in one or even both of the players moving elsewhere. Then there’s the fact that Eder Militao has been sidelined owing to a hamstring injury. He was first expected to be sidelined until April, though it’s hoped he’ll be back on the pitch before then.

Given these factors, the club is more than likely going to be on the lookout for a defender. Of course, Real Madrid won’t just invest in anyone; they’ll want the best of the best. The club apparently has a shortlist of names from various European teams and one of them is the German player Nico Schlotterbeck.

Schlotterbeck’s Plans for the Future

Schlotterbeck joined Borussia Dortmund in 2022 after playing for SC Freiburg in a transfer deal worth €25 million. He’s said to have become frustrated with the club’s performance and lack of progression in recent matches. When Dortmund played against the Norwegian team Bodø/Glimt, the result was a 2-2 tie, which annoyed Schlotterbeck. He believed his team played poorly and should have performed to a better standard.

Although Dortmund haven’t put out an official statement yet, there are supposedly tensions between the club and Schlotterbeck. Unless the club make changes to improve their chances of winning future matches, the tensions are probably going to keep on rising.

Schlotterbeck isn’t happy with how things are being handled at Dortmund. His current contract with the club doesn’t expire until 2027, though he may end up leaving earlier. Public comments about Dortmund’s performance and approach could give the club a weaker negotiating position. It might not be able to come up with an offer good enough to persuade Schlotterbeck to stay.

Even so, reports suggest that Dortmund wants to keep Schlotterbeck and doesn't want to lose him to another club. The defender has been an asset to the club in the last few years. Though Schlotterbeck hasn’t yet made an official statement confirming he’s going to leave Dortmund, an exit looks likely unless things at the club start improving. If he does intend to leave, Real Madrid could make an offer he can’t refuse.

Other Potential Options

But, it’s not just Real Madrid that has its eye on Schlotterbeck. Several other prominent football clubs have been keeping track of the defender and are rumoured to be making offers in the summer of 2026. These are Barcelona, Liverpool and fellow Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. In a few months’ time, there’s every chance that even more clubs will have become interested in Schlotterbeck.

Even if no other clubs want him, he should still have at least a few offers to consider. There’s no telling which club, if any, he’ll transfer to, though it could boil down to which one is able to make the best offer. Bayern Munich would be an easy choice if Schlotterbeck wishes to stay in his native Germany. If he’s keen to go abroad, he could be attracted to Spain or decide to give a UK club a try. Still, there could be any number of other factors (not just money) that influence his decision.

Schlotterbeck is valued at €55 million by Transfermarkt thanks to his excellent performance in Bundesliga matches over the past few years. With his defensive skills and strategy, he’s helped Dortmund record the second-lowest number of conceded goals (just 12) in the current Bundesliga season.

Dortmund’s Future

It’s very likely that Dortmund will lose Schlotterbeck in the near future. The club will no doubt be trying to find a replacement should the defender go ahead with his departure. As of December 2025, there’s no information on who the club could be eyeing up to take Schlotterbeck’s place. It could encourage an existing player to step up or make an offer to a player from another club.