News Focus
- Alejandro Grimaldo claims the top individual prize with seven out of ten votes from Bulinews writers
- The Spain international contributed 14 goals and led the squad in assists during a turbulent campaign
- Managerial upheaval saw Erik ten Hag dismissed after just two matches and Kasper Hjulmand will also depart
- Rising stars Ibrahim Maza and Jarell Quansah received recognition with two and one votes respectively
- Patrick Schick failed to secure any votes despite finishing as the club’s leading marksman
Spanish defender Alejandro Grimaldo has capped his likely farewell campaign at Bayer Leverkusen by securing the club’s Player of the Season accolade. The attacking full-back dominated the voting process, capturing seven out of ten ballots cast by Bulinews journalists.
The 30-year-old enjoyed a remarkable term on the pitch despite chaos on the sidelines. The BayArena outfit parted ways with Erik ten Hag following a disastrous start that saw the Dutchman lose his job after only two fixtures. Although the team recovered to secure sixth position in the German top flight and enjoyed a respectable European run, sporting directors decided against retaining Kasper Hjulmand beyond the summer.
Grimaldo’s durability proved crucial throughout the schedule. Alongside compatriot Aleix Garcia, he formed part of an exclusive duo that clocked over 4,000 minutes across all competitions. The former Benfica man topped the charts for goal contributions from defence, registering more assists than any teammate while finding the net 14 times in total. Only striker Patrick Schick managed to outscore him, yet the Czech forward surprisingly failed to attract a single vote despite his prolific form in the closing weeks.
The left-sided star demonstrated his attacking prowess with three separate braces, including a memorable double during the 6-3 demolition of Wolfsburg on matchday 28. He maintained exceptional availability, sitting out only one fixture after the winter break during the home stalemate against champions Bayern Munich.
Set-piece excellence marked Grimaldo’s impact under Hjulmand. He marked the Danish coach’s debut by converting two direct free-kicks, eventually reaching five such strikes for the term. This figure surpasses his combined total from the previous two campaigns.
Young talents Ibrahim Maza and Jarell Quansah earned plaudits with two and one votes respectively. Both players have earned international call-ups for the upcoming World Cup following impressive breakthrough performances in their debut Bundesliga seasons.