Four BVB standouts: Key players from the first half of 2025/26 | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund looks back on an eventful first half of the season. Despite all the turbulence, four BVB professionals stood out with particularly strong performances.

After a turbulent first half of the season at Borussia Dortmund, the winter break offers an opportunity for an interim assessment. Sporting setbacks and emotional highlights characterized the first half of the 2025/26 season – and as is often the case, the field is divided into the disappointed and the beneficiaries. Four players in the BVB squad stood out particularly positively. They not only met expectations but developed into clear winners of the season so far.

Felix Nmecha: The 25-year-old is one of the big winners of Dortmund's first half of the season. After a period where he struggled with injuries and fell short of the high expectations as an expensive Wolfsburg transfer, Nmecha has now established himself as a central figure in the midfield. Under Niko Kovac, he was a fixture in the defensive center like few others, starting in most competitive matches and missing no games. He particularly underscored his rise on the European stage with important goals.

Waldemar Anton: The 29-year-old has established himself as a reliable pillar of Dortmund's defense in the first half of the season. After a mixed first year in the BVB jersey, the former Stuttgart player quickly returned to the stability that had previously distinguished him in his second season. Under Niko Kovac, Anton enjoyed great trust, collected more playing minutes than any other outfield player, and became the central anchor of the three-man defense. With uncompromising tackling, high alertness, and strong presence, he took on the leadership role in defense – often more boss than sidekick.

Adeyemi as a Key Player in BVB's Offense

Gregor Kobel: The Swiss was once again the reliable backbone of Borussia Dortmund in the first half of the season. The 28-year-old was between the posts in all competitive matches, accumulated the most playing minutes in the squad, and impressed with high consistency over long stretches. Kobel kept a clean sheet in ten matches, and in the DFB-Pokal in Frankfurt, he even became the match-winner in the penalty shootout. Major mistakes were rare, with only a risky pass recently in Freiburg remaining as a minor blemish. Overall, Kobel presented himself as mature and at a high level.

Karim Adeyemi: The national player experienced a first half of the season with ups and downs – but sportingly, he is clearly among the winners. In Dortmund's offense, there was hardly any way around him, as the 23-year-old was repeatedly the starting point for dangerous actions. With six goals and three assists, he delivered the best scorer values among BVB attackers and proved to be the most consistent offensive player. Off the field, he repeatedly sparked discussions – but purely in sporting terms, Adeyemi showed a strong first half of the season.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.