Luca Reggiani: Who is Borussia Dortmund's teenage Italian centre-back?

Having teenagers in the starting line-up may be nothing new at Borussia Dortmund these days, but Luca Reggiani’s emergence at centre-back is no less extraordinary for it. We shine a spotlight on the 18-year-old Italy youth international.

Data correct as of 17 February 2026

Luca Reggiani

Age: 18 (9 January 2008)
Club: Borussia Dortmund 
Position: Centre-back
Country: Italy (one U19 cap)

Key stats

Reggiani caught Dortmund’s eye while still in his native Italy, playing for the Sassuolo academy and they brought him to the Signal Iduna Park at the age of 16 in February 2024.

After 12 appearances for the BVB U17s he was promoted to the U19s for the 2024/25 season, making 23 outings. His development and performances impressed first-team head coach Niko Kovač to such an extent that he promoted him to train with the senior pros on a regular basis.

“Luca’s now joined the group,” Kovač explained. “He’s a youth international and he’s making progress. That’s why he’s also part of the first-team set-up.”

Niko Kovač (l.) has had no hesitation about fielding Reggiani (r.) in the Dortmund first team. - IMAGO/DeFodi.de

More was to come for the youngster, who already speaks fluent German, as he was included in BVB’s squad for the Matchday 21 visit to Wolfsburg in 2025/26. He made his Bundesliga debut in that game as a 90th-minute substitute, and played the entire second half a week later after replacing Niklas Süle at the interval in a 4-0 win over Mainz.

As if that were not enough, injuries to Nico Schlotterbeck, Süle, Emre Can, Almugera Kabar and fellow Italian Filippo Mané opened the door for Reggiani to make his first senior start just a few days later. And in the UEFA Champions League, no less, as Dortmund took on Atalanta in the first leg of their knockout phase play-off.

Watch: Highlights of Dortmund's win over Mainz

About the players

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Luca

Reggiani

Borussia Dortmund

Plays a bit like: Mats Hummels

Dortmund fans need not look too far afield for comparisons, given the similarities between Reggiani and club legend Mats Hummels. Tall, physically imposing, elegant on the ball and with the eye and ability to stride forward from the back and initiate attacks with a defence-splitting pass, Reggiani is very much a defender in the modern mould.

Did you know?

Not only was Reggiani Italy’s captain at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar in 2025, he was named Player of the Match three times, taking in the honours in the round of 32 in a 2-0 win against Czechia, a 3-2 victory over Uzbekistan in the last 16, and in a 1-0 success against Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals.

Italy finished in third place at the competition, beating Brazil on penalties in the bronze-medal match.

Reggiani made his starting debut, and maiden Champions League appearance, against Atalanta in February 2026. - Pau Barrena

What they’re saying

“I’m very happy. A dream has come true for me. I’m extremely, extremely happy. Yesterday the coach told me, ‘You’re in the squad.’ And today I made my debut.” – Reggiani after making his Bundesliga debut against Wolfsburg

“I told him to enjoy it and that it was something special. It was a great debut — he did a really good job.” – Kovač on Reggiani’s debut

About the clubs

Borussia Dortmund

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