Dortmund's sporting director Sebastian Kehl arrives for the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Bochum and Borussia Dortmund at Vonovia Ruhrstadion. Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has dismissed rumours of alleged bad atmosphere between him and defender Nico Schlotterbeck in the wake of contract negotiations. David Inderlied/dpaDPAWed, November 26, 2025 at 10:07 AM UTC·1 min readBorussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has dismissed rumours of alleged bad atmosphere between him and defender Nico Schlotterbeck in the wake of contract negotiations.
"Everything is fine. People read a lot into it," he said after the 4-0 win against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKehl was referring to a video clip from the club's general meeting on Sunday, in which he's seen greeting all of the players with a handshake as they arrive at the event. Schlotterbeck, however, walked past Kehl without greeting him.
The defender is reportedly a target for several top European clubs, including league rivals Bayern Muncih. His contract with Dortmund expires in summer 2027.
"Of course, it looks a bit unfortunate," Kehl said, adding that he and Schlotterbeck laughed together about the interpretations given to the clip.
Kehl indirectly indicated that efforts to extend the 25-year-old's contract are proving difficult.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I know that Schlotti is giving it a lot of thought. We are trying to provide conditions that offer Schlotti an attractive environment. Ultimately, he wants to be successful, he wants to compete for titles. That's what we all want," he said.
"In the end, a decision will have to be made. We hope that this decision will be positive," he added, saying that Dortmund will also make financial efforts to retain the defender.
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