Loris Karius

League-leading goalkeeper

Karius ended a remarkable redemption season as one of the best goalkeepers in the 2. Bundesliga, keeping a league-leading 13 clean sheets across 30 appearances with a save percentage of 73, the highest of any first-choice goalkeeper in the division.

Analysis: Karius played a starring role in Schalke's stingy defensive campaign, conceding just 24 goals throughout the season, and earned praise from club legend Klaus Fischer as potentially the best goalkeeper in the country. Karius heads into the Bundesliga as Schalke's undisputed number one, and his outstanding form throughout the promotion campaign suggests he could make an immediate impact back at the top level of German football after years of struggling to rebuild his career.