By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga of 2021 so far

Here are the best defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga of 2021 so far, according to Kicker.
Leon Goretzka.
Leon Goretzka.Photo: Granada, CC-by-SA 4.0
Every six months, Kicker releases a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga as well as the best German players abroad, dividing them 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 2020/21 season. Below, you'll find the rankings for defensive midfielders.

World Class:
None.

International Class:
1. Leon Goretzka, FC Bayern
2. Joshua Kimmich, FC Bayern
3. Maximilian Arnold, Wolfsburg
4. Marcel Sabitzer, RB Leipzig
5. Xaver Schlager, Wolfsburg
6. Jude Bellingham, Dortmund
7. Jonas Hector, FC Köln

National class:
8. Mahmoud Dahoud, Dortmund
9. Thomas Delaney, Dortmund
10. Florian Grillitsch, Hoffenheim
11. Kevin Kampl, RB Leipzig
12. Wataru Endo, Stuttgart
13. Ellyes Skhiri, FC Köln
14. Makoto Hasebe, Frankfurt


Click here to see how Kicker ranked the Bundesliga's defensive midfielders after the first half of the 2020/21 season.

Kicker's summer rankings at other positions:

Goalkeepers

Centre-backs

Full-backs

Bundesliga news

Borussia DortmundZorc elected to Dortmund supervisory board
TSG HoffenheimHoffenheim duo ruled out through injury
SC FreiburgAdamu receives heavy suspension
Preview Bayer 04 LeverkusenBayer Leverkusen vs. RB Salzburg preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Preview RB LeipzigInter vs. RB Leipzig preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Bayer 04 LeverkusenLeverkusen include 16-year-old in squad to face Salzburg amid injury woes
FC BayernKane responds to criticism suggesting he doesn't score enough in big games
FC BayernKompany gives fresh injury update on Pavlovic ahead of PSG clash
Preview BayernBayern Munich vs. PSG preview: Team news and predicted lineups
VfB StuttgartHoeness pleased with Führich's improving form: "It's going in the right direction"
Rumor Hoffenheim & RB LeipzigReport: Leipzig join Eintracht in race for Hoffenheim prodigy
Team of the week BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Week: Matchday 11
Borussia DortmundRicken voices support for Sahin and Kehl

Table

Kickfieber

Match days

Team of the week BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Week: Matchday 11
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11First-half flurry guides Gladbach past toothless St. Pauli
Post-match reaction FSV Mainz 05Da Costa praises Bell's defensive direction: "He leads us for the full 90 minutes."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Mainz easily dispatch harmless Kiel, move up to seventh place
Post-match reaction Eintracht FrankfurtGötze reflects on Frankfurt role: "I feel like the grandpa here."
Post-match reaction 1. FC HeidenheimSchmidt cites Pieringer injury as reason for loss
Other Wolfsburg & DFBBaku takes the SEAL path: "Discipline is the bridge between goals and their realization."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBBrandt credits DFB training work for set-piece stunner
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartDiehl on first Bundesliga goal: "Still at a loss for words."
Post-match reaction TSG 1899 HoffenheimBruun Larsen after scoring late winner: "I'm available when needed."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Götze fulfills Toppmöller's birthday wish as Eintracht join title race
Other Bayer 04 LeverkusenLeverkusen fear Terrier has suffered serious hand injury
Other RB LeipzigRose and Schäfer after latest defeat: "We must find the solutions together."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 1115:30 Kickoffs: Leverkusen, Hoffenheim, Dortmund, Stuttgart, and Wolfsburg all victorious
Preview Borussia Mönchengladbach, St. PauliBorussia Mönchengladbach vs St. Pauli preview: Hosts look to continue home run
Post-match reaction FC BayernKompany after Bayern's 3-0 win over Augsburg: "I'm never satisfied"
Post-match reaction FC AugsburgAugsburg pleased with defensive display despite 3-0 defeat
Borussia DortmundGuirassy reportedly a big doubt for Dortmund's clash with Freiburg
Post-match reaction BayernKane after converting 25 straight penalties: "Practice is the time to miss."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Another Kane "Lupenreiner" lifts Bayern over Augsburg
Other Holstein KielRapp declares Holtby fit enough to start against Mainz
Other FSV Mainz 05Henriksen likely to stick with Bell despite return of Jenz and Hanche-Olsen
Other Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller ahead of another Götze milestone match: "I expect him to score again."
Preview Bayer Leverkusen, HeidenheimBayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim preview: Champions in need of post-international reset
Preview Wolfsburg, Union BerlinWolfsburg vs Union Berlin preview: Die Wölfe look to keep unbeaten run

German Teams in Europe

Preview RB LeipzigInter vs. RB Leipzig preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Bayer 04 LeverkusenLeverkusen include 16-year-old in squad to face Salzburg amid injury woes
FC BayernKane responds to criticism suggesting he doesn't score enough in big games
Preview BayernBayern Munich vs. PSG preview: Team news and predicted lineups
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

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

Other Wolfsburg & DFBBaku takes the SEAL path: "Discipline is the bridge between goals and their realization."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBBrandt credits DFB training work for set-piece stunner
DFBUEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off draw: Germany learn opponents
Werder Bremen & DFBZetterer confirms contact with the German Football Association
Rumor DFBReport: DFB in talks with Nagelsmann over new contract
DFBCeltic star reveals dream of playing for Germany at the World Cup in 2026
DFBMusiala and Nagelsmann bemoan Wirtz's "stupid" yellow-card suspension
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann after Hungary draw: "I don't want to talk about the game"
Opinion DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Post-match reaction DFB Andrich after Hungary penalty draw: "Where should his hand go?"
Match report DFBGermany U21s conclude undefeated calendar year with draw in France
DFBConfirmed lineups: Hungary vs. Germany
DFBNagelsmann hints at starting spot for "world-class" Sané
DFBNagelsmann confirms plan to rotate heavily against Hungary
Preview DFBHungary vs. Germany preview: Team news and predicted lineups
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!"
Opinion 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

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 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

Champions League - FC Bayern - Paris SGChampions League - Inter - RB LeipzigChampions League - Leverkusen - Salzburg