5 Bundesliga 2 players to watch in 2025/26, featuring Loris Karius and Shuto Machino
Loris Karius will hope to continue his career renaissance at Schalke, while Shuto Machino's goals could hold the key to Holstein Kiel's prospects of securing an immediate return to the Bundesliga in 2025/26. Ahead of the new campaign, bundesliga.com picks out five saviours in the making from up and down the second tier...
1) Loris Karius (Schalke goalkeeper)
Mistakes have a habit of sticking in professional sport, as Karius knows all too well. The German stopper's credentials were rocked by an unfortunate mishap in the UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid back in 2018, with subsequent stints at Besiktas, Union Berlin and Newcastle United doing little to revive his top-level career.
The winds of change are beginning to blow in the 31-year-old's favour, though, following a promising loan spell at Schalke during the latter half of 2024/25. Although injury restricted his playing time as the Royal Blues sailed far too close to the relegation wind for comfort, Karius has since been kitted out not only with a permanent deal but also the No.1 jersey.
Ahead of the Ruhr club's third straight season in the second tier, the ex-Liverpool custodian's experience and command of the penalty box could prove the difference between a repeat showing - or worse - and a serious tilt to get back to the top-flight promised land.
2) Shuto Machino (Holstein Kiel forward)
Machino's 11 Bundesliga goals weren't enough to keep Kiel in the big time in 2024/25, but another double-digit showing might just propel them back to whence they came at the first attempt.
The Japan international put in some massive solo shifts, not least between Matchdays 30-32, when he scored five times and registered an assist to help take the relegation fight to the penultimate weekend.
Although the fabled Great Escape didn't materialise, Kiel have been able to retain the services of their Goal Machino, putting them firmly among the promotion frontrunners in 2025/26.
Watch: All of Shuto Machino's goals for Holstein Kiel
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3) Julian Kania (Arminia Bielefeld forward)
While Machino's Kiel went down, Julian Kania's Arminia Bielefeld roared back into Bundesliga 2 following two seasons in Germany's 3. Liga.
Kania ended their championship-winning campaign on 14 goals - a stunning return for a player barely given a look-in at Bundesliga 2 outfit Nuremberg the previous year. The 23-year-old also scored twice in four DFB Cup games, including from the bench in Arminia's 4-2 defeat to Bundesliga giants VfB Stuttgart in the final.
Regular Bundesliga 2 football will provide the next test of his credentials, but it's one he has the quality to pass with flying colours.
4) Marvin Wanitzek (Karlsruhe attacking midfielder)
Marvin Wanitzek has a decade on young Kania, the German playmaker and ex-Stuttgart youngster long a bona fide part of the furniture at Karlsruhe.
Approaching 300 competitive appearances for the Baden-Württemberg club, Wanitzek produced career-best numbers last term, namely 13 goals and 12 assists. That's now three successive seasons he's posted at least 16 goal involvements.
With no signs of slowing down into his 30s, the Karlsruhe captain's example will be key to his team's prospects of mounting a sustained push for promotion after four top-eight finishes across the previous five years.
5) Martijn Kaars (Magdeburg forward)
Martijn Kaars's 19 goals had Magdeburg knocking at the Bundesliga's door for much of 2024/25, but a season-ending run of just two wins from six cost them dearly as they finished five points outside the promotion play-off spot, in fifth.
The former Ajax youth player scored in successive games on eight occasions, famously putting four past Schalke on Matchday 20, two weeks after hitting a hat-trick against Elversberg. He also notched a couple of braces, as well four assists.
Watch: Martijn Kaars' four-goal salvo against Schalke
Debut seasons have scarcely been more impactful and, at 26 and approaching a footballer's peak years, the best of Kaars is yet to come.
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