Borussia Dortmund have officially signed Waldemar Anton from Stuttgart on a four-year deal until 30 June 2028.
The Champions League finalists confirmed the transfer of the former Stuttgart captain, which had been widely rumored since June.
Reports in the German media suggest that Dortmund activated Anton’s release clause of 22.5 million euros ($24 million).
The 27-year-old defender’s arrival will help fill the void left by Mats Hummels, who departed at the end of the season.
Hummels left Dortmund in June after 13 years at the club over two spells, winning two Bundesliga titles and appearing in the 2013 and 2024 Champions League finals.
Meanwhile, Anton is the first signing made by new Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Şahin.
Waldemar Anton speaks on his transfer
Following his transfer to Dortmund, Waldemar Anton revealed that he never had the intention of leaving Stuttgart soon but couldn’t say no to a top club like Dortmund.
Anton said in a statement on Monday: “I had no intention of changing clubs, but then Dortmund came along.”
“A top club that had just reached the Champions League final. That shows the potential this club has.”
After captaining Stuttgart to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga last season, following their relegation playoff victory the year before, Anton’s leadership and defensive abilities will be a valuable addition to Dortmund’s squad.
The 27-year-old earned his first call-up to the Germany national team in March and was selected by Julian Nagelsmann for the Euro 2024 squad.
He made appearances as a substitute in two games, including the quarter-final loss to Spain after extra time.
However, the loss of their captain is another setback for Stuttgart who made a remarkable turnaround from relegation candidates to Bundesliga runners-up and Champions League qualifiers last season.
In addition to Anton, the team has also lost defender Hiroki Ito to Bayern Munich and faces potential interest from other top European clubs for forwards Serhou Guirassy, Chris Fuehrich, and Deniz Undav, who was on loan from Brighton.
Who is Waldemar Anton?
Waldemar Anton is a German professional footballer who plays as a center-back for the Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Born in Uzbekistan, he plays for the German national team.
Waldemar Anton’s club career
Anton began his career with Hannover 96 before he transferred to VfB Stuttgart on a four-year deal on July 28, 2020.
Anton became the team captain of VfB Stuttgart in August 2023 and extended his contract until 2027 on 14 January 2024.
On 8 July 2024, Anton joined fellow Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, signing a four-year contract.
His International career
Anton represented Germany as a youth international. He achieved success by winning the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2017 and finishing as a runner-up in 2019.
In a significant development in March 2024, Anton received a call-up to join the German national team for upcoming friendly matches against France and the Netherlands.
He made his debut for the team on 23 March 2024 in a match against France.
Furthermore, Anton was selected to be part of Germany’s squad for the UEFA Euro 2024, showcasing his skills and potential on an even bigger stage.
What’s next?
Anton will join his new team headed by Nuri Sahin on 10 July before embarking on pre-season camps in Japan from the 19th to the 25th of July and Switzerland from the 1st to the 9th of August.
