Aleix García: Bayer Leverkusen's midfield metronome
After numerous high-profile departures, Aleix García has established himself as a key figurehead at Bayer Leverkusen, staking his claim as one of the Bundesliga's finest central midfielders.
Joining Leverkusen from Girona in June 2024, García struggled to nail down a starting berth during his maiden campaign under Xabi Alonso. However a change in coach, the departures of Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz and an injury to Exequiel Palacios have led to 11 starts in 12 Bundesliga games so far this season.
Playing in a deeper role under Kasper Hjulmand, in a Xhaka-shaped hole, García has become one of first names on Dane's team sheet, shielding the back three as part of a new-look double pivot alongside teenager Ibrahim Maza. Tasked with dictating tempo and starting moves - much like his predecessor - no player has touched the ball more than García in the Bundesliga this term (1,308 times/ 121 touches per 90 minutes).
“He’s become better and better since my arrival,” said Hjulmand after Leverkusen’s 2-0 win against Union Berlin on Matchday 6.
García is someone who can distribute the ball under pressure, playing a total of 1,161 passes from open play - the most of any Bundesliga player in 2025/26 - with a 93.88 per cent completion rate. The 28-year-old's passing efficiency (+22.6) is also the highest in the Bundesliga - a metric that was also a Xhaka hallmark during his two seasons at Leverkusen - and he's already chipped in with three assists. That's one less than his tally over the entire 2024/25 campaign.
It’s not just in possession where the Spain international excels, though. Only Bayern Munich average more possession than Leverkusen (58 percent) this season, but when they lose the ball, García is there. Strong in the challenge, the tenacious midfielder has won 61 percent of his duels, committing just one foul. An engine in midfield, he also averages 7.3 miles (11.8 kilometres) per game.
García has shown he can do it on the UEFA Champions League stage, too, with two goals in Leverkusen’s 7-2 defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain, and a supremely composed showing in the 2-0 win at former club Manchester City. After five rounds of fixtures, he even sits above fellow countrymen Fabián Ruiz (PSG) and Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal) for attempted passes (334) and passing accuracy (90.2%).
Watch: The best of Aleix García in the Bundesliga
Flourishing in his second season in Germany’s top flight, García may not get as many plaudits as star left-back Alejandro Grimaldo or striker supreme Patrik Schick, but he’s no less important to the Leverkusen cause. Indeed, there's a strong argument to suggest the Spaniard has become Hjulmand's most important player.
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