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Schlotterbeck Heads to Southampton in Bundesliga Exit
The Germany defender departs FC Augsburg for the Championship side on a permanent transfer, adding Bundesliga experience to Saints' backline.
Southampton have moved to bolster their defensive options, completing the signing of Keven Schlotterbeck from FC Augsburg on a permanent transfer. The 28-year-old Germany international, who wore the number 31 jersey in Bavaria, put pen to paper on 26 August 2026, swapping the Bundesliga for the Championship in search of regular football. Schlotterbeck arrives at St Mary's with a wealth of top-flight experience and a physical profile — 189cm, 84kg — that should suit the demands of English football's second tier.
At a glance
- Keven Schlotterbeck, 28, Defender, Germany
- FC Augsburg → Southampton, permanent transfer completed 26 Aug 2026
- Bundesliga: 24 apps, 2031 mins, 1 assist, 6.98 rating in 2025
Career context
Schlotterbeck's route to the south coast has been a winding one. He began his senior career in the German third division with Union Berlin, where he made his name before a series of loan spells — including a January 2019 move to SC Freiburg — preceded a permanent switch to the Black Forest club in 2020. A loan spell at VfL Bochum in the first half of 2023 preceded another short-term return there that summer, before Freiburg offloaded him to Augsburg in July 2024. The move to Southampton represents his first step outside German football and his most geographically adventurous transfer yet.
His trophy cabinet is modest but meaningful: a DFB Pokal runners-up medal from the 2021/22 season with Freiburg, and another second-place finish in the same competition. More telling, perhaps, is his injury record — a litany of setbacks including an ankle injury that kept him out until mid-September 2025, thigh problems in late 2024, and recurring muscle issues that have punctuated his career. Southampton will be hopeful that his move to England coincides with a period of fitness.
How he fits at his new club
Standing at 189cm with an 84kg frame, Schlotterbeck profiles as a classic ball-playing centre-half. His API-Football attributes paint a clear picture: a technique rating of 96, defence at 76, and a perfect 100 in duels. That blend of technical assurance and physical competitiveness should translate well to the Championship's direct style. His pass accuracy of 85% across 1,266 passes in the 2025 Bundesliga campaign suggests he's comfortable playing out from the back — a trait increasingly prized in England's second tier.
At Augsburg last season, he started 22 of his 24 Bundesliga appearances, logging 2,031 minutes. That consistency — combined with 23 blocks, 33 interceptions, and 40 tackles — indicates a defender comfortable in his own half and willing to engage. His single assist and 14 key passes suggest he can contribute to build-up play without overstepping his defensive remit.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
Recent numbers
Schlotterbeck's final Bundesliga season with Augsburg was a study in durability and quiet effectiveness. Across 24 league appearances — 2031 minutes — he produced:
- 211 duels contested, winning 136 (65% success rate)
- 40 tackles, 23 blocks, 33 interceptions
- 1,210 passes at 85% accuracy, with 12 key passes
- 6 yellow cards, 1 yellow-red, 0 reds
- 1 assist, 9 shots (3 on target)
His overall 2025 season across all competitions added a DFB Pokal appearance — 93 minutes, a yellow card, and a 6.9 rating. In his most recent match, a DFB Pokal Round of 64 victory over Energie Cottbus, he captained Augsburg, completed 7 of 10 duels, and played the full 90 minutes.
His recent form has been interrupted by injury, however. A calf issue in May 2026 saw him come on as a substitute in the final Bundesliga match against Union Berlin — a game Augsburg lost 4-0. His last full 90-minute performance was that August 2026 DFB Pokal win, where he wore the armband.
Key takeaways
| Metric | Bundesliga 2025 | DFB Pokal 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Apps | 24 | 2 |
| Minutes | 2031 | 93 |
| Duels won | 136/211 (65%) | 3/4 (75%) |
| Tackles | 40 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 33 | 3 |
| Pass accuracy | 85% | 19% (29 passes) |
| Rating | 6.98 | 6.9 |
- Schlotterbeck brings over 2,000 Bundesliga minutes of recent experience to a Southampton defence likely seeking stability.
- His duel-winning rate of 65% and 100 duels attribute suggest he can handle the physical demands of Championship football.
- The injury history — 14 separate sidelined periods since 2019 — remains a risk, but his return to fitness in August 2026 offers encouragement.
- At 28, he's entering his prime years as a defender and will add leadership to a relatively young Saints squad.
Southampton will be banking on his Bundesliga pedigree and aerial presence to shore up a defence that has struggled for consistency. If he can stay fit, Schlotterbeck's combination of technical composure and defensive grit could prove a shrewd addition to the Championship battle.