Dortmund defender Süle announces retirement from football

Dortmund's Niklas Suele in action during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich at Signa Iduna Park. Federico Gambarini/dpa

Former Germany defender Niklas Süle has announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the current season.

The 30-year-old Borussia Dortmund centre-back will end his playing career when his contract expires on June 30, 2026, the club said on Thursday.

"I would like to announce that I will be ending my career this summer," Süle said on the "Spielmacher" podcast by 360Media.

The player had been toying with the idea of hanging up his boots for some time. The final decision came after the match in Hoffenheim in April, where he injured his knee.

Süle said he became emotional after Dortmund's team doctor and a physio tested his knee in the dressing room and appeared concerned about a possible cruciate ligament tear.

"I went into the shower and cried for 10 minutes. In that moment, I really thought: 'It's torn'," said Süle in the podcast.

MRI good news made decision clear

"When I went for an MRI the next day and received the good news (that it wasn't a cruciate ligament tear after all), it was one 1,000% clear to me that it was over.

"I couldn't imagine anything worse than looking forward to life – being independent, going on holiday, spending time with my children – only to then have to come to terms with my third cruciate ligament tear," said Süle, whose career has repeatedly been interrupted by injuries.

Dortmund had already announced that the club would not extend the defender's contract after four years with the team.