There have been sone big performances from some of the Bundesliga's lesser-known players in 2024/25. - © DFL

bundesliga

5 surprise stars from the 2024/25 Bundesliga season, featuring Nick Woltemade, Finn Dahmen and Shuto Machino

01.05.2025

As the 2024/25 Bundesliga season draws to a close, attention begins to turn to the standout performers of the year. While some of those were fully expected – think Harry Kane’s scoring exploits or Florian Wirtz’s all-round genius – a host of unexpected stars have also emerged, delivering standout performances and defying pre-season expectations.

From forwards scoring off scraps to record-breaking goalkeepers, bundesliga.com brings you five players who have taken the Bundesliga by storm...

Mohamed Amoura
Club: Wolfsburg

In his debut Bundesliga season after joining from Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise last summer, Algerian forward Mohamed Amoura has registered 10 goals and eight assists from 28 appearances so far. That’s a goal involvement every 127 minutes of action, placing him among the league's elite contributors.

Standout performances include braces in a 5-1 hammering of RB Leipzig on Matchday 12 and a brace in a narrow 3-2 defeat against Bayern Munich on Matchday 18. With his composure, finishing and sharp movement, Amoura has quickly become a fan favorite and a key asset for Wolfsburg.

Finn Dahmen
Club: Augsburg

Finn Dahmen has been exceptional for Augsburg this term. After starting the season on the sidelines due to injury, the 27-year-old has made up for lost time since returning to the starting line-up on Matchday 16. Between early February and mid-March, he went 683 minutes without letting in a single goal, a run that had included six consecutive clean sheets and took him up to sixth in the Bundesliga's all-time top 10 for minutes without conceding.

The uncapped German – also eligible for England – boasts the best save percentage (85.9) in the entire division. Whispers of national team consideration grow louder.

Nick Woltemade
Club: VfB Stuttgart

After a 2022/23 loan spell at Elversberg, where he netted 10 goals, Nick Woltemade scored just twice in 30 games for Werder Bremen last term. A return to the lower leagues appeared on the cards, only for VfB Stuttgart to swoop for the now 23-year-old.

Standing at 1.98m (6’5”) , Woltemade combines physicality with technical finesse and his hold up play has added a new dimension to Stuttgart's attack. A brace from the bench against Union Berlin on Matchday 13 was a particularly impressive display, turning the tide in a crucial 3-2 victory.

The Germany U21 forward is now on nine goals and two assists in 25 league appearances for the season, at a rate of a goal involvement every 123 minutes.

Kaishu Sano
Club: Mainz

Japanese midfielder Kaishu Sano has drawn huge praise in his inaugural Bundesliga season thanks to his energy and defensive positioning. The 24-year-old has covered more distance (360.4km) than any other player in the league and ranks fifth in duels won (331).

Sano's contributions have been vital in Mainz's fight for European qualification. His seamless adaptation to German football has not only endeared him to fans but also positioned him as one of the league's standout newcomers.

Kaishu Sano (l.) has been a standout performer for Mainz this season. - DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Shuto Machino
Club: Holstein Kiel

In a challenging season for newly promoted Holstein Kiel, Shuto Machino has been a beacon of hope. The Japanese forward has reached double figures for goals, a remarkable feat considering the team's struggles. His ability to find the net in crucial moments, including a memorable brace against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 31, has been instrumental in Kiel's fight against relegation.

After arriving in Germany from the J-League in the summer of 2023, Shuto scored five goals in Kiel’s promotion campaign. To double that in a harder league, for a team fighting near the bottom, is a remarkable achievement.