Dortmund goalkeeper Sébastien Haller, who is suffering from testicular cancer, will have to undergo a second operation.

This is necessary to “finally remove this tumour that keeps me off the pitch”, the Ivorian international footballer announced on social media on Wednesday. The fight is not over for him yet, the 28-year-old noted.

Borussia Dortmund then tweeted, “We wish you continued strength, Seb! Stay strong!” Haller, who was signed from Ajax Amsterdam this summer for a record sum of over €30 million, was diagnosed with a testicular tumour during pre-season.

Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl had recently said that there was still no concrete plan for the attacker’s comeback. “We cannot name a fixed date,” said Kehl.

Haller had completed a training session at the end of October at the ground of his former club Ajax Amsterdam, fuelling speculation about an imminent comeback. He had previously said in a UEFA interview that if he didn’t need another operation, “and that would be very lucky, it could even be quite quick.” Now Haller will have to undergo another operation after all.