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 16 March 2026
Age: 18 (born 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.”
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.
Reggiani then retained his starting berth for Dortmund's trip to Leipzig, and followed up his impressive performances with a maiden Bundesliga goal in front of the Yellow Wall against Augsburg, cementing the teenager as the youngest Italian goalscorer in Germany's top flight.
"That it actually happened is simply indescribable," beamed Reggiani, who hasn't looked out of place alongside Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton as the Italian continues his meteoric rise.
Watch: Reggiani scores his first Bundesliga goal as BVB beat Augsburg 2-0
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.
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
"The way he celebrated - that was pure joy, coming from deep within - and the reward for many, many years of hard work. Everyone shared his happiness." - Sebastian Kehl on Reggiani's first Bundesliga goal
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