Deniz Aytekin and Fabienne Michel named DFB Referees of the Year 2025-26 | OneFootball

Deniz Aytekin and Fabienne Michel are in line to be named as DFB Referees of the Year 2026, based on Sky Germany's latest update. 

This outcome is the result of a week-long vote that was open to all referees across Germany to determine the best male and female arbiter.

As was the case two years ago, Aytekin and Michel will also grace the cover of the new rulebook for the 2026-27 season.

The duo received their individual trophies on Friday evening at the joint season finale for all elite referees in Leipzig.

Aytekin, despite being just 47-years-old, refereed his last Bundesliga game which ended in a 5-1 win for Bayern Munich over 1.FC Köln.

His age is the cut-off point for officials in Germany to help keep the pace of topflight officiating and encourage young referees.