By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga of 2024 so far

Here are the best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga of 2024 so far, according to German football magazine Kicker.

 

Every six months, Kicker publish a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga, as well as the best German players abroad, divided into a number of categories.

The German football magazine have released the second part of their summer rankings based on the performances in the second half of the 2023/24 season. Below, you'll find the rankings for defensive midfielders.

World Class

None. 

International Class

1. Granit Xhaka, Bayer Leverkusen

2. Exequiel Palacios, Bayer Leverkusen

3. Angelo Stiller, Stuttgart

4. Marcel Sabitzer, Borussia Dortmund

5. Robert Andrich, Bayer Leverkusen

6. Amadou Haidara, RB Leipzig

National Class 

7. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Bayern Munich

8. Nadiem Amiri, Bayer Leverkusen/Mainz

9. Xaver Schlager, RB Leipzig

10. Leon Goretzka, Bayern Munich

11. Atakan Karazor, Stuttgart

12. Konrad Laimer, Bayern Munich

13. Leandro Barreiro, Mainz (now Benfica)

14. Lennard Maloney, Heidenheim

Bundesliga news

Bayer LeverkusenAndrich shares thoughts on Tah's failed move to Bayern
FC BayernMatthäus slams "unrest" at Bayern: "No player there can win the Ballon d'Or"
Bayer 04 LeverkusenXhaka apologizes after seeing red against Denmark
Rumor FC BayernWhy Eberl went public with his criticism of Musiala's Ballon d'Or exclusion
DFBTer Stegen opens up about finally being Germany's number one goalkeeper
DFBGermany vs. Hungary preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Other Borussia DortmundHummels on decision to join Roma: "Totti and de Rossi."
Rumor BayernSport Bild Report: Goretzka nixes loan to Galatasaray, salary concerns may be an issue
Other Frankfurt & DFBDahoud switches allegiance back to Germany: "I would love to play for my home country."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBAdeyemi speaks on "cultivating confidence" for national team return
FC Bayern Bayern boss "very surprised" that Musiala isn't nominated for the Ballon d'Or
Toplist FC HeidenheimHeidenheim winger becomes fastest player in Bundesliga history
Werder BremenFriedl comments on Werder spat: "Wasn't all that cool"

Table

German National Team

Other Frankfurt & DFBDahoud switches allegiance back to Germany: "I would love to play for my home country."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBAdeyemi speaks on "cultivating confidence" for national team return
Match report DFBTresoldi and Adeyemi bag braces in Germany U21 rout of Israel
DFBKimmich reacts to Germany captaincy
Heidenheim, Bayern, & DFBWanner declines Germany U21 call-up, Nagelsmann and di Salvo speak on matter
DFBNagelsmann confirms Kimmich as new DFB captain
DFBAdeyemi returns to Germany U21s in latest round of call-ups
Other Stuttgart & DFBHoeneß congratulates Stiller, guarantees Chase start against Mainz
DFBNagelsmann explains first Germany call-up for Stiller
DFBGermany reveal squad for September fixtures
Rumor VfB StuttgartReport: Stuttgart star set for first Germany call-up
DFBSky names favorite to replace Gündogan as Germany captain
DFB Gündogan retires from international football
DFB-FrauenDFB confirm Oberdorf will miss Olympics
DFBVöller hails Müller: "His value for German football can't be overestimated"
DFBNagelsmann reacts to Müller's international retirement
DFBOfficial: Müller announces retirement from international football
Match report DFB-FrauenJonsdottir dispatches Germany women's national team in error-filled performance
Rumor DFBMüller retires from international football, Bild reports
DFBMatthäus names Kimmich as Kroos' natural successor
DFBHoeness praises "great performances" of Nagelsmann's Germany team
Euro 2024Cucurella comments on controversial handball call against Germany
DFBNagelsmann reveals how he plans to replace Kroos
DFBVöller optimistic about German national team's future despite quarter-final defeat
Post-match reaction DFBFüllkrug makes emotional statement to Germany fans after Spain defeat

Match days

Post-match reaction BayernMüller credits van Gaal for latest goal, defends Kompany's unconventional tactics
Post-match reaction Leipzig & LeverkusenRose speaks on his red card, thanks Leverkusen fans for helping him find a seat
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 2Bayern defeat Freiburg as record-breaker Müller bags late goal to ensure victory
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 2Home rout of Augsburg sends Heidenheim to the top of the Bundesliga table
Post-match reaction FSV Mainz 05Mainz praise Leitsch after late equalizer: "So many setbacks, such a long time."
Post-match reaction Gladbach, Bremen, & ÖFBStöger and Friedl comment on latest Austrian national team selection
Post-match reaction Eintracht FrankfurtEintracht boss backs Ekitiké for France call-up
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundSahin comments on "nothing" BVB attacking display, calls Haller departure a "huge loss"
Post-match reaction Bayer LeverkusenRolfes and Tah criticize Leverkusen's defending after defeat
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 2Leipzig comeback victory ends Leverkusen's 35 match league unbeaten run
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 215:30 Kickoffs: Frankfurt dominant in home win, Stuttgart and Mainz share spoils in six-goal-thriller
Post-match reaction Union BerlinHollerbach and Khedira see room for improvement after Union win
Preview Bundesliga Matchday 1Holstein Kiel vs Wolfsburg preview: Rapp and Hasenhüttl looking to build on promising signs
Preview Bundesliga Matchday 1Stuttgart vs Mainz preview: Both sides looking for first league win
Other Bundesliga Matchday 2Xabi confirms Kovar will stand in goal against Leipzig
Other Stuttgart & DFBHoeneß congratulates Stiller, guarantees Chase start against Mainz
Analysis/Commentary SC FreiburgSC Freiburg analysis – Perfect response and jubilant mood on opening day
Post-match reaction St. Pauli & Holstein KielBundesliga newcomers reflect on opening day losses: "We have to learn quickly."
Post-match reaction Heidenheim & BayernSchmidt praises Bayern loanee Wanner: "He learns fast."
Post-match reaction BayernKompany's keys to victory: "Mentality, Müller, and the München traveling support."
Post-match reaction VfL WolfsburgHasenhüttl calls for more support from Wolfsburg fans: "Still as a graveyard."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 1Heidenheim inflict defeat on misfiring St.Pauli in their Bundesliga opener
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 1Bayern bounce back as Gnabry seals gruelling win over Wolfsburg
Interview SC Freiburg vs VfB StuttgartFreiburg vs Stuttgart - Reactions from the fan scene
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundSahin praises Gittens: "He's on his way up."

DFB-Pokal

Other DFB PokalDFB-Pokal second round fixtures released
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAndrich criticizes Leverkusen performance in the DFB-Pokal: "That's not us"
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartHoeness after 5-0 win: "We're only at the beginning"
Preview DFB-PokalCarl Zeiss Jena vs. Bayer Leverkusen preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Preview DFB-PokalPreussen Münster vs. Stuttgart preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Match report DfB PokalFrankfurt show their class to break down stubborn Braunschweig
Match report DfB Pokal18:00 Pokal Kickoffs: A tip-Topp evening for Bremen, Wolfsburg scrape by Koblenz, Kickers Offenbach stun Magdeburg
Other SC FreiburgFreiburg praise resurgent Adamu: "He can become an important player for us."
Match report DfB Pokal18:00 Pokal Kickoffs: Hamburg and Karlsruhe simply unstoppable, Dresden eliminate Fortuna Düsseldorf
Other VfL WolfsburgHasenhüttl names Lacroix captain for cup tie: "I know that he will stay."
Match report DfB Pokal1.FC Köln survive first-round scare in Sandhausen
Match report DfB Pokal15:30 Pokal Kickoffs: Big shock as Bochum bow out; Hertha Berlin, Paderborn, Darmstadt, and Elversberg advance
Match report DfB PokalNürnberg squeeze past Saarbrücken after penalty shoot-out drama
Match report DfB PokalAugsburg comfortably see off Viktoria Berlin in Pokal opener
Match report DfB Pokal18:00 Pokal Kickoffs: Rosenboom the hero as Holstein Kiel survive Aachen upset, Bielefeld brush Hannover aside
Match report DFB PokalGroß records two assists as Dortmund get Sahin Era off to winning start
Match report DfB Pokal15:30 Pokal Kickoffs: Leipzig, Freiburg, Heidenheim, and Union Berlin all advance; Kaiserslautern and Schalke secure second-round berths
Match report DfB Pokal13:00 Pokal Kickoffs: Gladbach complete comeback, Fürth swipe Schott Mainz aside
Match report DFB Pokal18:00 Pokal Kickoffs: St. Pauli and Mainz avoid upsets in extra time, Hoffenheim advance on penalties
Bayer LeverkusenAlonso not committing to starting goalkeeper: "We'll see from game to game"
FC BayernReport: Goretzka left out of Bayern squad for DFB-Pokal game
Other VfB StuttgartHoeneß confirms ongoing search for "quality" defender, leaves Undav-Demirovic question open ahead of Supercup
DFB-PokalDFB-Pokal first round draw
Post-match reaction FC KaiserslauternFunkel praises Lautern support, hints that he might again return to coaching
Post-match reaction DFB PokalXabi explains rein-in of Wirtz: "We had to calm things down."

Long reads

Analysis/Commentary SC FreiburgSC Freiburg analysis – Perfect response and jubilant mood on opening day
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 1"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 1 (New transfers edition)
Analysis/Commentary FantasyFantasy Bundesliga: A guide to the new rules for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary Bayer 04 LeverkusenHow Bayer Leverkusen could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary FC BayernHow Bayern could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Denmark
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Switzerland
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Scotland
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaShould the Bundesliga relegation/promotion tie be scrapped?
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Season
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 34"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 33
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 33
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 31
Analysis/Commentary BayernBayern Munich player ratings against Real Madrid
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 31
Analysis/Commentary Bayer 04 LeverkusenBayer Leverkusen are getting closer to immortality
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 30
Analysis/Commentary Leverkusen"Laterkusen" - the art of deciding games late
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 30
2. Bundesliga Schalke 04The tragic downfall of Schalke 04

Exclusive interviews

Interview SC Freiburg vs VfB StuttgartFreiburg vs Stuttgart - Reactions from the fan scene
Interview BundesligaEXCLUSIVE: Michael Owen talks Kane, Musiala, Sancho and looks back on famous hat-trick against Germany
Editor's pick Bundesliga & DFBEXCLUSIVE: Dietmar Hamann on the Bundesliga title fight, Der Klassiker and Nagelsmann's start as Germany coach
Editor's pick MainzEXCLUSIVE: Danny da Costa rules out future coaching job
Interview Bayer LeverkusenEXCLUSIVE: Edmond Tapsoba on England links, his role models and Leverkusen's struggles this season
Interview Bundesliga InterviewEXCLUSIVE: From infancy to Eisernen - An Interview with Union Berlin’s rising star Laurenz Dehl
Editor's pick LeverkusenSimon Rolfes interview – part two: Leverkusen boss points out "problem" with German youth development
Editor's pick LeverkusenFernando Carro interview: Bayer Leverkusen CEO says Bundesliga rights are “sold under value”, questions 50+1 rule
Editor's pick Bayer 04 LeverkusenSimon Rolfes interview: Leverkusen boss on global scouting, Frimpong’s “fantastic” rise and more
Editor's pick WolfsburgEXCLUSIVE: Jonas Wind on Wolfsburg's poor start, Niko Kovac, his dream club and more
Editor's pick EXCLUSIVE: Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind gives injury update, shares thoughts on ...
Editor's pick DortmundEXCLUSIVE: Ex-BVB star and agent Niclas Jensen on life on and off the pitch and why Bielefeld's Bello is one to watch
Editor's pick GladbachEXCLUSIVE: Gladbach's Joe Scally on first United States call-up and World Cup chances
Editor's pick GladbachEXCLUSIVE: Gladbach and USMNT defender Joe Scally on his rise to stardom and season so far

Team News