German football publication Kicker has released the goalkeeper section of its comprehensive summer player rankings, evaluating performances from the second half of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The respected bi-annual assessment, which divides players by position and further categorises them according to performance levels, places Hamburger SV‘s Daniel Heuer Fernandes in third position among the division’s shot-stoppers.
The rankings offer a detailed review of form displayed between January and May 2026. Heuer Fernandes, the 32-year-old Portuguese custodian, claims the highest position revealed in this initial publication, with the identities of the top two ranked goalkeepers withheld for subsequent releases.
New clubs, established form
Several ranked players have already secured transfers ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, making their placements a reflection of past rather than present employment. Mio Backhaus, placed fifth, earned his ranking during his time at Werder Bremen but has since completed a permanent move to SC Freiburg. The 22-year-old will hope to carry this momentum into his new environment in the Black Forest as he vies for regular first-team football.
Moritz Nicolas of Borussia Mönchengladbach occupies sixth spot following his consistent displays at Borussia-Park throughout the assessment period. Meanwhile, Alexander Nübel ranks eighth after an impressive temporary spell at Stuttgart, a period sufficient to prompt his return to parent club Bayern Munich as the reigning champions reassess their goalkeeping hierarchy.
Transfer market in motion
The list further reflects the summer’s goalkeeping merry-go-round. Daniel Batz, ranked ninth, has departed Mainz 05 to join Gladbach, where he will compete directly with Nicolas for the starting berth. RB Leipzig’s Maarten Vandevoordt sits in 11th position as the Belgian international continues his development at the Red Bull Arena.
These Kicker evaluations carry significant weight within German football, often influencing contract negotiations and transfer valuations. With the assessment covering only the second half of the campaign, it provides a focused snapshot of late-season form rather than year-long consistency. This makes it particularly relevant for clubs seeking proven performers entering the new season, even as the landscape shifts through ongoing transfer activity.