Germany international Nadine Keßler has decided to call time on her football career at the age of 28 as a result of persistent knee problems. She will therefore not be extending her contract at VfL Wolfsburg in the summer. The 2014 World Footballer of the Year and 2014 European Player of the Year won the German Championship, the DFB Cup and the Champions League twice each with Wolfsburg. With regards to her future career plans, she is leaving her options open, however she knows that she will devote more time to the master degree she began last year at the VfL Wolfsburg campus.

She said of her decision: "I extend my thanks to VfL Wolfsburg for the successful years I had there and the many great memories I'll take. I'm also naturally thinking of my time with the national team. It's very hard for me to have to realise that I must end my career as a result of injury problems, but in any case I'm looking forward with a positive mindset and I'm grateful for all the wonderful moments I've had with the team and with the Germany squad. I've always played with passion and I'm now looking forward to new challenges and new perspectives."

Neid: "A great loss for German women's football"

Keßler won the European Championship with the Germany national team in 2013, playing a total of 29 games for her country between 2010 and 2014, scoring ten goals. "It's naturally a great loss for German women's football," said national team manager Sylvia Neid. "Nadine Keßler is an incredible footballer and has an impressive personality. She's a role model both on and off the pitch. It's a great shame that she has to end her career but I'm sure that she'll find her own way going forward."