Nico Schlotterbeck is a German professional footballer who plays as a left‑footed central defender for Borussia Dortmund and the German national team, and as of mid‑2026 he is regarded as one of the top ball‑playing centre‑backs in the Bundesliga.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Nico Cedric Schlotterbeck |
| Nickname | Schlotti |
| Date of birth | 1 December 1999 |
| Age | 26 years |
| Birthplace | Waiblingen, Baden‑Württemberg, Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Religion | N/A |
| Height | 191 cm |
| Weight | 86 kg |
| Preferred foot | Left foot |
| Position | Centre‑back / central defender |
| Youth clubs | SG Weinstadt, Stuttgarter Kickers, VfR Aalen, Karlsruher SC, SC Freiburg youth |
| Senior clubs | SC Freiburg II, SC Freiburg, Union Berlin (loan), Borussia Dortmund |
| Jersey number | No. 4 at Borussia Dortmund |
| International debut | 26 March 2022 for Germany vs Israel (friendly) |
| Turned professional | Senior debut for SC Freiburg II in 2018; first‑team SC Freiburg 2019 |
| Net worth | 5-8 million USD |
| Annual salary | About 4.72 million EUR gross per season at Borussia Dortmund, roughly 90,000 EUR per |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Spouse | Sabrina Schlotterbeck |
| Children | Two children |
| Instagram profile | @nico.schlotterbeck |
Nico Schlotterbeck is a tall, athletic, left‑footed centre‑back who made his way from local clubs in Baden‑Württemberg to the Bundesliga and the German national team. Off the pitch he keeps his private life low‑key, living with his wife Sabrina and their two children near Dortmund and sharing mostly football‑related content on Instagram.
Early career
Schlotterbeck grew up in Waiblingen and came through several youth systems, starting at SG Weinstadt before moving to Stuttgarter Kickers, VfR Aalen, Karlsruher SC and finally SC Freiburg’s academy.
He progressed into SC Freiburg II and made his senior debut in 2018, impressing with his aerial presence and left‑footed passing from the back. His development at Freiburg’s youth and reserve sides laid the foundation for his later rise in the Bundesliga and with Germany’s youth national teams.
Professional career
After breaking into SC Freiburg’s first team in 2019, Schlotterbeck spent the 2020–21 season on loan at Union Berlin, where he became a regular starter and scored his first Bundesliga goal.
He returned to Freiburg and had a standout 2021‑22 campaign, earning a move to Borussia Dortmund in 2022 for a reported fee in the mid‑20‑million‑euro range. At Dortmund he quickly established himself as a key centre‑back, adding goals from set pieces and earning consistent call‑ups to the German national team.
Wife
Public reports make clear that Nico Schlotterbeck is married to Sabrina, who has taken his surname and largely stays out of the spotlight with a private Instagram account. The couple’s first child was born in late November 2023, and a second child followed in early 2026, with German media describing them as a son and a younger daughter, though the children’s names are not public. Sabrina is regularly seen in the stands at Dortmund and Germany matches but otherwise keeps the family life very private.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s Net worth Details
As of 2026, Nico Schlotterbeck’s net worth in the approximate range of 5-8 million USD. These figures combine his club wages, performance bonuses, and endorsement income, but they remain estimates since neither Schlotterbeck nor Dortmund have released official net worth statements.
Contract
Schlotterbeck signed for Borussia Dortmund in July 2022 on a long‑term deal after leaving SC Freiburg. Contract data from salary and cap tracking sites show that he is under contract with Dortmund until 30 June 2027, on a five‑year agreement worth roughly 23.6 million EUR in base salary over its duration. Reports in 2025 indicated ongoing talks about a possible extension with improved terms, but as of mid‑2026, no officially confirmed new contract has been announced.
Salary
Publicly available salary databases indicate that Nico Schlotterbeck earns around 4.72 million EUR gross per season at Borussia Dortmund, which works out at just over 90,000 EUR per week before bonuses.
That figure aligns with several football finance estimates that place his annual pay in the 4.5–4.7‑million‑EUR range plus performance‑related bonuses of up to roughly half a million EUR per year. These numbers put him firmly among the better‑paid defenders in the Bundesliga, reflecting his status as a regular starter for Dortmund and a German international centre‑back.
Career Earnings
| Season | Club | Reported weekly salary | Reported annual salary | Notes |
| 2019–20 | SC Freiburg | ~€3,846 per week | ~€200,000 | First regular senior contract at Freiburg. |
| 2020–21 | Union Berlin (loan) | ~€5,000 per week | ~€260,000 | Loan spell, salary still relatively modest. |
| 2021–22 | SC Freiburg | ~€5,000 per week | ~€260,000 | Breakout season before Dortmund move. |
| 2022–23 | Borussia Dortmund | €90,769 per week | €4.7M | First BVB season on long‑term deal. |
| 2023–24 | Borussia Dortmund | €90,769 per week | €4.7M | Same base salary as previous year. |
| 2024–25 | Borussia Dortmund | €90,769 per week | €4.7M | Listed consistently across salary databases. |
| 2025–26 | Borussia Dortmund | €90,769 per week | €4.7M | Current season figure; assumes full season. |
Endorsements
Schlotterbeck’s main known endorsement partner is Adidas, which supplies his boots and features him among its roster of Bundesliga defenders. Biographical and finance sources list him as an Adidas‑endorsed player and note that he has worn models such as the Adidas X Speedportal.1 in recent seasons.
Beyond this boot deal, there are no widely reported major individual sponsorships or lifestyle brand contracts; he tends to keep his image focused on football rather than broad commercial campaigns.
Career Records
| Category | Data |
| Total senior club appearances (all competitions, up to 2025–26) | Around 160+ games for Freiburg, Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund combined, with precise counts varying slightly by source. |
| Total senior club goals (all competitions) | Around 15+ goals, including league and cup, mostly scored from set pieces at Freiburg and Dortmund. |
| 2025–26 club season | 38 appearances, 5 goals and 1 assist in all competitions for Dortmund. |
| 2025–26 Bundesliga season (selected stats) | 28 league games, 5 goals, 1 assist, 32 shots, 3 times hitting the woodwork, 293 tackles won, 76 aerial duels won, 8 yellow cards. |
| Career Bundesliga defending stats (up to 2024–25) | 148 league appearances, 11 goals, 9 assists, 283 tackles, 191 interceptions, 499 clearances, according to StatMuse’s Bundesliga career line. |
| Champions League 2025–26 key numbers | 7 games, 561 minutes, 54 balls recovered, 7 tackles, about 90.6% passing accuracy. |
| Germany senior team | Debut in March 2022; around 18 caps by late 2024, still searching for a first senior international goal as of early 2026. |
FAQs
1. Who is Nico Schlotterbeck?
Nico Schlotterbeck is a German professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and for the German national team.
2. When and where was Nico Schlotterbeck born?
Nico Schlotterbeck was born on 1 December 1999 in Waiblingen, a town in the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
3. Which clubs has Nico Schlotterbeck played for in his career?
He played youth football for SG Weinstadt, Stuttgarter Kickers, VfR Aalen, Karlsruher SC and SC Freiburg, then professionally for SC Freiburg, Union Berlin on loan, and Borussia Dortmund.
4. What position does Nico Schlotterbeck play and what are his main strengths?
He is primarily a centre-back known for strong tackling, aerial ability, good positioning, and progressive passing, including long diagonal balls and effectiveness on set pieces.
5. When did Nico Schlotterbeck join Borussia Dortmund and how long is his contract?
Nico Schlotterbeck joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022 on a transfer from SC Freiburg and signed a five-year contract running until 2027.
6. What is Nico Schlotterbeck’s height and physical profile?
He is about 1.91 metres tall, with a strong, athletic build that suits his role as a physically dominant central defender.
7. What has Nico Schlotterbeck achieved with the German national team?
After representing Germany at various youth levels and winning the 2021 U21 European Championship, he debuted for the senior national team in March 2022 and has appeared at major tournaments including the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
8. Has Nico Schlotterbeck suffered any notable injuries?
Yes, his career has included some setbacks such as shoulder and muscle injuries, and a meniscus tear in his left knee in April 2025 that caused him to miss the FIFA Club World Cup.
9. Does Nico Schlotterbeck come from a football family?
He comes from a footballing family: his brother Keven is also a professional player, his cousin Marvin Zimmermann plays football, and his uncle Niels Schlotterbeck is a former professional.
10. What individual recognition has Nico Schlotterbeck received?
He has been included in the Bundesliga Team of the Season by specialist magazine kicker for the 2021–22 campaign, highlighting his performances as one of the league’s top defenders.