Weidenfeller Signs Contract Extension

The club announced today that keeper Roman Weidenfeller has signed a contract extension, keeping him at Dortmund for another year until June 2017.

Weidenfeller, considered to be a club legend, is second all-time in terms of appearances for Borussia Dortmund. The 35-year-old keeper's 431 games are only surpassed by Sporting Director Michael Zorc's 561 games for the club.

In 2002 Weidenfeller moved from Kaiserslautern to BVB on a free transfer. He was an integral part of Dortmund's successive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and in 2012. He was also a part of Germany's 2014 World Cup winning squad in Brazil.

"Roman was and is, with his athletic and human quality, an important part of our squad," said Zorc. "We are very pleased that we go together into the future."

Action this season under Thomas Tuchel has come on a much more limited basis for Weidenfeller, who struggled last year. Swiss keeper Roman Burki has started every game in the Bundesliga this season, his first with BVB since signing from relegated SC Freiburg in June. Weidenfeller has only played in six matches this season, all starts in the Europa League. In those six matches Weidenfeller has only been called on to make seven saves.

Weidenfeller, who never complained about being dropped for Burki at the start of the season, said: "I am happy and grateful to continue to be part of the new, positive development of BVB."

Burki is younger and certainly better than Weidenfeller at this stage in his career. Still it is encouraging to see a club legend stick around for a little longer. The strength of Weidenfeller's relationship with the club could eventually see him move into a coaching role after he hangs up his boots.