Süle announces retirement after injury setback

Former Germany international Niklas Süle will retire at the end of the season, with the 30‑year‑old Borussia Dortmund defender revealing his decision on the “Spielmacher” podcast. Süle, whose contract expires on June 30, has made 299 Bundesliga appearances and earned 49 caps for Germany. He admitted he had been contemplating retirement for some time, but the decisive moment came after suffering a knee injury during Dortmund’s mid‑April visit to former club Hoffenheim.

Süle described the fear he felt when medical staff performed initial tests, recalling how he cried in the shower believing he had torn his cruciate ligament for a third time. Although scans later brought relief, he said the experience made it “one thousand per cent clear” that his career was over.

Süle joined Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2022 and played 109 competitive matches, reaching the Champions League final in his second season and narrowly missing the league title in his first.