Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a knee injury in Sunday's Bundesliga match against RB Leipzig.
The German international, who joined Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2015, was replaced by Marco Reus during the second half and will undergo further tests to determine the extent of his injury.
Hummels, 29, is one of the most experienced defenders in the Bundesliga and has made over 300 appearances for Dortmund since joining the club. He has also earned over 60 caps for Germany,La Liga Stadium making him one of the country's most decorated players.
The news comes as a blow to Dortmund, who have struggled without their key defensive partner this season. The club currently sits third in the league table with 44 points, six behind leaders RB Leipzig. However, they still have a chance to qualify for next season's Champions League if they can secure a top-four finish.
Dortmund fans will be hoping that Hummels makes a full recovery and returns to the side as soon as possible. His absence will undoubtedly affect their chances of winning the title this season, but it remains to be seen how the team will cope without him in the heart of their defence.