Bundesliga
An immense presence in the German top-flight and pulling off world-class saves in continental competition, Gregor Kobel is fast becoming one of the best custodians around. bundesliga.com has the lowdown on Borussia Dortmund's formidable goalkeeper, who has been making waves all across the continent...
Stats correct as of 26 April 2025
Age: 27 (born 6 December 1997)
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Goalkeeper
Country: Switzerland (11 caps)
Key stats
Kobel played youth football for Grasshopper Club Zurich, but earned his senior breakthrough in Germany. The 6'4" goalkeeper joined Hoffenheim at 16, later signing pro terms He made six senior appearances for Die Kraichgauer, keeping a clean sheet on his first-team debut in the 2017/18 DFB Cup first round.
Following a successful six-month loan to Bundesliga rivals Augsburg, where he earned 16 consecutive starts during the 2018/19 Rückrunde, the Switzerland international was snapped up by relegated VfB Stuttgart. Kobel recorded 10 shut-outs in 31 league appearances as Stuttgart roared back to the big time as Bundesliga 2 runners-up in 2019/20.
The three-time German top-flight winners gave him a permanent contract through to 30 June 2024, with their faith in Oliver Baumann's former Hoffenheim understudy vindicated. The naturally right-footed Kobel played all but one of VfB's Bundesliga games in 2020/21, keeping five clean sheets and saving two penalties. With Kobel ranking eighth league-wide for shots saved, on 67 per cent that season, Dortmund had all the information they needed and swooped to sign the keeper in summer 2021.
Kobel kept nine clean sheets across 39 appearances in all competitions in 2021/22 - the season in which he made his senior Switzerland bow. He played an integral role as Dortmund just missed out on the German title. In 2023/24, he kept six clean sheets as BVB reached the UEFA Champions League final.
In what has been a tough current season for Dortmund, Kobel has been a regular, making key contributions as BVB bid to qualify for Europe.
Plays a bit like: Yann Sommer
Former Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach stopper Sommer has often been praised for pulling off a string of stunning saves just when his teams have needed it the most. Kobel is proving just as adept at those agile, camera-clicking moments as his Swiss compatriot. The BVB man's quick-feet, ability to get down in the blink of an eye and strength in one on ones also help to draw to comparisons with Switzerland-legend Sommer.
Did you know?
Kobel has his father partly to thank for his all-round athleticism.
Peter Kobel earned his keep as a professional ice hockey player and - despite "proudly encouraging Gregor to move to the Hoffenheim academy" - admits it took him a while to get his head around his son’s career choice.
"He was hell-bent on playing football and becoming a goalkeeper," Kobel senior recalled. "As an ice hockey forward, that made no sense to me!"
What they're saying
"Gregor has developed into a goalkeeper of world-class calibre who has attracted the interest of many top clubs in Europe." - Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl
"As well as being a real talent, he’s mentally strong, inquisitive and willing to learn." - Kobel’s former goalkeeper coach at Hoffenheim, Michael Rechner