By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga of 2023 so far

Here are the best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga of 2023 so far, according to German football magazine Kicker.
Ellyes Skhiri.
Ellyes Skhiri.Photo: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA 4.0
Every six months, Kicker publishes a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga, as well as the best German players abroad, divided into a number of categories.



Today, the German football magazine has released the first part of their summer rankings based on the performances in the second half of the 2022/23 season. Below, you'll find the rankings for defensive midfielders.

World Class:
None.

International Class:
1. Ellyes Skhiri, FC Köln
2. Konrad Laimer, RB Leipzig
3. Emre Can, Borussia Dortmund
4. Robert Andrich, Bayer Leverkusen
5. Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich
6. Wataru Endo, VfB Stuttgart

National class:
7. Xaver Schlager, RB Leipzig
8. Exequiel Palacios, Bayer Leverkusen
9. Leandro Barreiro, Mainz
10. Eric Martel, FC Köln
11. Anthony Losilla, VfL Bochum
12. Alex Kral, Schalke 04

Bundesliga news

DFBWhen will ter Stegen return from injury?
VfL BochumReports: Bochum bring Riemann back from suspension
Rumor Bayer 04 LeverkusenLeverkusen reportedly set to change kit supplier
FC BayernTillman "dreams" of Bayern return
Eintracht Frankfurt€40m not enough to prize Marmoush away from Frankfurt, says Krösche
Borussia DortmundDortmund trio closing in on injury return
DFBKimmich injury fears allayed after substitution against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann and Kleindienst delighted after Bosnia-Herzegovina win
Post-match reaction DFBMusiala reacts to Germany's thumping of Bosnia-Herzegovina: "That was fun!"
DFBGermany player ratings against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBUnstoppable Germany roll over Bosnia-Herzegovina to seal top spot
VfB StuttgartStuttgart CEO confident of keeping Hoeness "for a very long time"
DFB Confirmed lineups: Germany vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina

Table

Match days

Post-match reaction RB LeipzigRose blown away by Nusa: "Wow, just wow!"
Team of the week BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Week: Matchday 10
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 10Wolfsburg take their chances as Heidenheim slump to defeat
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 10Drama galore as Frankfurt survive late Stuttgart fightback to seal victory
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 10Nothing to split Augsburg and Hoffenheim after scoreless stalemate
Post-match reaction VfL BochumHecking off to Westphalian "fun fair" after first Bochum match
Post-match reaction Werder BremenNiemeyer reflects on Burke's late winner: "The stories only football can write."
Post-match reaction VfL BochumNew Bochum coach Hecking hailed after 1-1 draw with Leverkusen
Match report Leipzig & GladbachLeipzig drop points again as Gladbach hold Rose's men to a draw
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso on another disappointing draw: "We have to do better when we take the lead"
Post-match reaction FC BayernMusiala reflects on wondergoal: "I've been practising long-range shots in training"
Post-match reaction FC BayernKompany explains decision to give Goretzka surprise start
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 1015:30 Kickoffs: BVB falter as Can sees red, another draw for Leverkusen, Burke lifts Werder late
Preview Stuttgart & Frankfurt Stuttgart vs. Frankfurt preview: Toppmöller's soaring Eagles looking to make huge statement
Preview Augsburg & HoffenheimAugsburg vs. Hoffenheim preview: Guests hoping to exit relegation zone
Post-match reaction SC FreiburgGrifo rues missed penalty: "I'll still be annoyed in bed tonight"
Preview RB Leipzig, Borussia MönchengladbachRB Leipzig vs Borussia Mönchengladbach preview: Hosts look to regain form
Preview Werder Bremen, Holstein KielWerder Bremen vs Holstein Kiel preview: Grün-Weißen look to improve home record
Preview Heidenheim & WolfsburgHeidenheim vs. Wolfsburg preview: Schmidt's men keen to end domestic slump
Bayer 04 LeverkusenTerrier remains out for Leverkusen
VfB StuttgartStuttgart to make late decision on Undav for Frankfurt clash
Preview Bochum, Bayer LeverkusenBochum vs Bayer Leverkusen preview: Champions stuck in rut
Preview St. Pauli, FC BayernSt. Pauli vs Bayern München preview: St. Pauli welcome league leaders
RB LeipzigLeipzig duo ruled out of Gladbach clash
Preview Mainz, Borussia DortmundMainz vs Borussia Dortmund preview: Schwarzgelben chase third straight win

German Teams in Europe

Other BayernShakhtar lowers ticket prices in response to threatened boycott
Match report UEFA Conference LeagueFrank Schmidt's tactical tweaks guide Heidenheim past Hearts
Match report UEFA Europa LeagueTohumcu's late strike salvages a point for Hoffenheim
Match report UEFA Europa LeagueMarmoush to the fore as Frankfurt overcome Slavia Praha
Preview UEFA Europa LeagueConfirmed lineups: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Slavia Praha
Post-match reaction FC BayernKompany: "It's important to win like this sometimes"
Post-match reaction FC BayernMusiala reacts to victory over Benfica: "We all knew we had to win"
Match report FC BayernDominant Bayern edge past resilient Benfica
Match report VfB StuttgartLookman strikes again as Atalanta defeat Stuttgart
Other VfB StuttgartConfirmed lineups: Stuttgart vs. Atalanta
FC BayernConfirmed lineups: Bayern Munich vs. Benfica
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundSahin "expects more" from Malen
TSG HoffenheimMatarazzo says Lyon clash will be a "special game"
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundDortmund "on the right path" after Sturm Graz win, says Kehl
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso on Liverpool loss: "60 minutes is not enough to win a game at this level"
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner says Leipzig players need to "look in the mirror" after Celtic defeat
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenXhaka reacts to Liverpool defeat: "We conceded goals too easily"
Match report Borussia DortmundMalen magic delivers victory for Dortmund
Match report RB LeipzigKühn bags brace as Celtic add to Leipzig's European worries
Match report Bayer 04 LeverkusenLiverpool sink Leverkusen on Alonso's return to Anfield
RB LeipzigConfirmed lineups: Celtic vs. RB Leipzig
Match report UEFA Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Borussia Dortmund vs. Sturm Graz
Bayer 04 LeverkusenConfirmed lineups: Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 LeverkusenTerrier ruled out of Leverkusen's match against Liverpool
VfB StuttgartMittelstädt says Stuttgart are "extremely excited" ahead of Atalanta clash

DFB-Pokal

Other RB LeipzigLeipzig confirm investigation into alleged Nazi salute in stadium
Other DFB PokalDFB-Pokal draw: Kane receives direct crack at Leverkusen, Leipzig host Frankfurt, Kohfeldt heads back to Bremen
Post-match reaction TSG 1899 HoffenheimTSG praise summer signings Chaves and Tabakovic after win: "We've stabilized."
Other Eintracht FrankfurtDFB confirms two-match cup suspension for Theate
Eintracht FrankfurtMarmoush opens up about spectacular mask celebration
Mainz & Bayern"The referee was wearing a Bayern shirt" – Mainz defender slams officiating after DFB-Pokal defeat
Match report DFB-Pokal20:45 Pokal Kickoffs: Musiala minces Mainz, Bielefeld knock out Union, Hoffenheim advance
Match report DfB PokalDucksch breaks Paderborn hearts as Bremen secure last-16 berth
Match report DfB PokalHertha Berlin spring upset as Heidenheim's Pokal dreams end in controversy
Match report DfB PokalFreiburg's first-half surge sees off HSV
Match report DfB PokalMarmoush the joker as 10-man Frankfurt eliminate Gladbach
Mainz & BayernNadiem Amiri: "You definitely have respect for Bayern again"
Post-match reaction FC AugsburgDahmen after successful 2024/25 debut: "I showed the coach he can count on me."
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartFührich comments on 2024/25 form: "I haven't met my standards."
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner on Leipzig success despite injuries: "All this crap has brought us closer together."
Match report DFB POKALWind's late winner secures Wolfsburg win vs Dortmund
Match report DFB POKALStuttgart see off Kaiserslautern, Köln ease past Kiel and Regensburg survive red card
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenRolfes critical of Leverkusen's performance despite 3-0 win
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAleix Garcia eager for more minutes after scoring in the cup
Preview Eintracht & GladbachEintracht Frankfurt vs. Gladbach preview: Team news and predicted lineups
MainzHenriksen and Mainz not "afraid" of Bayern
Match report DfB PokalAugsburg advance past Schalke, Karlsruhe eliminate Kickers Offenbach
Match report DfB PokalLeipzig see off St.Pauli in six-goal Pokal thriller
Match report DfB PokalLeverkusen make light work of Elversberg
Other Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller draws comparison to Özil in explaining Chaibi's form dip: "A matter of body language."

German National Team

Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann and Kleindienst delighted after Bosnia-Herzegovina win
Post-match reaction DFBMusiala reacts to Germany's thumping of Bosnia-Herzegovina: "That was fun!"
DFBGermany player ratings against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBUnstoppable Germany roll over Bosnia-Herzegovina to seal top spot
DFB Confirmed lineups: Germany vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBGermany U21s now unbeaten in 12 after victory over Denmark in test fixture
DFBNagelsmann gives update on Wirtz and confirms goalkeeping decision
DFBKleindienst blown away by 'Wusiala': "Sometimes I don't think I'm a fantastic footballer"
DFBStiller ruled out of Germany's games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary
DFBWirtz and Stiller still missing from Germany training
DFBGermany's goalkeeping plans for upcoming matches revealed
Other Eintracht Frankfurt & DFBFrankfurt duo keen to represent Germany
DFBDuo sit out of Germany training
DFBNagelsmann responds to Trapp's "no communication" claim
DFBNagelsmann explains Sané and Brandt's return to Germany squad
DFBNagelsmann reacts to Wanner's decision to turn down Germany call-up
Other DFBGermany U21s: Moukoko returns while Collins, Kemlein, and Bischof earn first-time call-ups
DFBGermany reveal squad for November fixtures
Other DFBReports: Man City's Ortega earns Germany call-up
Other Bayern, Heidenheim, DFB, & ÖFBWanner declines call-up from Nagelsmann, two reliable sources report
Other Stuttgart & DFBConfirmed: Leweling out for international break with thigh injury
Post-match reaction DFB-FrauenGwinn's reveals Popp's final words after passing on captaincy: "She said 'Have fun with the crew'."
Other DFB FrauenWück announces short "symbolic" shift for Popp, two DFB players depart camp injured
Match report DFB FrauenGerman women prevail over England in seven-goal-thriller at Wembley
DFB FrauenChristian Wück's full German women's squad for October friendlies

Long reads

Editor's pick TSG HOFFENHEIMChristian Ilzer: A deep dive into Hoffenheim's likely next coach
Editor's pick FC BAYERNThe secrets behind Vincent Kompany's brilliant start as Bayern Munich's head coach
Analysis/Commentary Werder BremenThe world’s worst restart: Naby Keïta’s disastrous one-year spell at Werder Bremen
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 3
Analysis/Commentary VfL Bochum‘The Unrelegatables’: How Peter Zeidler’s tactics can secure VfL Bochum’s Bundesliga status
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against the Netherlands
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

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