Best Defenders in the Bundesliga 2025/26
Per-90 performance rankings · Rising Transfers DNA Analysis · 25 players ranked
Based on per-90 statistics across 25 Bundesliga defenders in 2025/26, Luka Vuskovic leads the ranking as a Ball-Playing CB with a composite score of 1.50. Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (Ball-Playing CB) ranks second at 1.49, followed by Jan Boller (Ball-Playing CB) at 1.42. All rankings are calculated using Rising Transfers' 47-dimension per-90 analysis methodology.
Methodology: Per-90 stats explained · DNA matching
Luka Vuskovic
24 games · Croatia
Jeffrey Gouweleeuw
33 games · Netherlands
Jan Boller
24 games · Germany
Full Bundesliga Defenders Rankings
| # | Player | Style | TW/90 | Int/90 | Clr/90 | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luka Vuskovic | Ball-Playing CB | 0.61 | 1.26 | 8.70 | 24 |
| 2 | Jeffrey Gouweleeuw | Ball-Playing CB | 1.48 | 1.73 | 7.89 | 33 |
| 3 | Jan Boller | Ball-Playing CB | N/A | 3.31 | 3.31 | 24 |
| 4 | Leopold Querfeld | Physical Stopper | 0.80 | 1.24 | 7.28 | 26 |
| 5 | Robin Koch | Ball-Playing CB | 0.61 | 1.43 | 6.57 | 25 |
| 6 | Danilho Doekhi | Physical Stopper | 0.96 | 1.27 | 5.12 | 27 |
| 7 | Patrick Mainka | Ball-Playing CB | 0.92 | 1.04 | 7.35 | 27 |
| 8 | Nico Elvedi | Ball-Playing CB | 1.04 | 0.96 | 8.20 | 27 |
| 9 | Rasmus Kristensen | Active Full-Back | 2.02 | 1.20 | 3.47 | 19 |
| 10 | Patric Pfeiffer | Ball-Playing CB | N/A | 1.55 | 6.73 | 26 |
| 11 | Nikola Katic | Physical Stopper | N/A | 1.14 | 7.21 | 25 |
| 12 | Arthur Theate | Ball-Playing CB | 0.95 | 1.32 | 5.92 | 20 |
| 13 | Matthias Ginter | Ball-Playing CB | 0.40 | 0.96 | 6.04 | 26 |
| 14 | Maximilian Großer | Ball-Playing CB | N/A | 1.67 | 4.17 | 23 |
| 15 | Frederik Jäkel | Physical Stopper | N/A | 1.65 | 4.96 | 25 |
| 16 | Waldemar Anton | Ball-Playing CB | 1.00 | 0.75 | 5.50 | 25 |
| 17 | Colin Kleine-Bekel | Ball-Playing CB | N/A | 1.61 | 4.97 | 24 |
| 18 | David Raum | Active Full-Back | 1.22 | 1.26 | 3.78 | 26 |
| 19 | Daniel Heber | Ball-Playing CB | N/A | 1.64 | 3.32 | 30 |
| 20 | Jordy Gillekens | Aerial | N/A | 1.20 | 5.33 | 27 |
| 21 | Christoph Kobald | Ball-Playing CB | N/A | 1.32 | 5.09 | 20 |
| 22 | Leopold Wurm | Physical Stopper | N/A | 1.42 | 5.12 | 22 |
| 23 | Jonas Föhrenbach | Active Full-Back | 0.98 | 1.25 | 3.21 | 20 |
| 24 | Jordy de Wijs | Ball-Playing CB | N/A | 1.25 | 4.19 | 28 |
| 25 | Hasan Kuruçay | Physical Stopper | N/A | 0.90 | 6.64 | 24 |
KP = Key passes · F3rd = Passes into final third · TW = Tackles won · Int = Interceptions · Clr = Clearances · GC = Goals conceded
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best defender in the Bundesliga right now?
Based on per-90 data in 2025/26, Luka Vuskovic is the top-ranked defender in the Bundesliga. Luka Vuskovic is classified as a Ball-Playing CB by Rising Transfers' DNA analysis system.
How are Bundesliga defenders ranked on Rising Transfers?
Rising Transfers ranks defenders using a composite per-90 score across key performance dimensions specific to the position. All statistics are normalised per 90 minutes of play to allow fair comparison between players with different minutes. Only players with 1,350+ minutes (equivalent to approximately 15 full matches) are included to ensure statistical reliability.
What does the DNA archetype mean for defenders?
Each player is assigned a DNA archetype (e.g. Creator, Ball-Winner, Pressing Forward) based on their playing style vector — a 768-dimensional representation of their per-90 performance across 47 metrics. The archetype describes how the player plays, not just their position.
How often is the Bundesliga defender ranking updated?
Rankings are recalculated weekly as new match data is processed into Rising Transfers' DNA pipeline. The underlying per-90 statistics are sourced from live match data across the Bundesliga season.
Defenders Rankings in Other Leagues
Other Positions in the Bundesliga
Rankings are generated by Rising Transfers using per-90 statistics from the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Only players with 1,350+ minutes in the current season are included to ensure statistical reliability. Scores are computed using a position-specific composite formula across 47 performance dimensions. Data is refreshed weekly. Learn more about our methodology →
Some players may be excluded due to data availability (e.g. mid-season transfers, injury absences, or cup-only appearances). Rankings reflect on-pitch statistical performance and do not account for team defensive structure or shot quality — elite players on dominant teams may rank lower on volume-based metrics.