Hans-Joachim Watzke confirms Mats Hummels’ contract has been extended until 2023

Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed that Mats Hummels will stay at Borussia Dortmund at least until the end of the 2022/23 season. 

Mats Hummels’ contract at Borussia Dortmund was earlier due to expire at the end of the current season. There was a clause in his contract that would have seen him receive an automatic extension if he made a certain number of appearances this season. But Hans-Joachim Watzke has now confirmed that the clause has been removed from his contract, and the influential centre-back will stay with the Black and Yellows until 2023.

"Watzke was a guest on the Sport1-Doppelpass on Sunday, where he said:“Mats had a clause in his contract. We thought it was unacceptable for the contract term of a leading player to depend on the number of games he plays. That is why we have removed this clause. He will be with us until 2023.”"

Hummels has been an integral part of the Borussia Dortmund defence since making a stunning return to the club in 2019. He missed the start of the current season due to a patellar tendon issue, but is now fully fit once again.

Hummels said in May that he wants to keep playing at the highest level as long as it is physically possible. And he will now stay with BVB for at least two more seasons. The 32 year old became only the fifth player to reach 400 competitive appearances for Borussia Dortmund earlier this month.

Hummels made his Borussia Dortmund debut in January 2008 after joining the club from Bayern Munich. Over the years, he established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe and helped BVB win back to back Bundesliga titles in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons. He then went on to join Bayern Munich in 2016, before making his return to Dortmund three years later.