CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | SC Paderborn 07 |
| League | Bundesliga |
| Manager | Ralf Kettemann |
| Stadium | Home Deluxe Arena |
| Nickname | SCP |
| Founded | 1907 |
| First-Choice Goalkeeper | Nahuel Noll (loan from TSG Hoffenheim) |
| Backup Goalkeeper | Markus Schubert |
| Third Choice | Florian Pruhs |
| Key Departure | Dennis Seimen (loan ended, returned to VfB Stuttgart) |
| Defining Trait | A Bundesliga debutant relying on a loanee’s ball-playing quality |
The Defining Moment
Paderborn’s return to the Bundesliga after a season in the 2. Bundesliga presented Ralf Kettemann with a goalkeeping decision that defined the club’s summer. Dennis Seimen, the loanee who had been one of the pillars of the promotion campaign, returned to VfB Stuttgart, where he was earmarked as the club’s new number one . The club needed a replacement, and the solution arrived on loan from Hoffenheim: Nahuel Noll, a 23-year-old who had spent the previous two seasons accumulating regular minutes at Greuther Fürth and Hannover 96 .
The defining choice, however, was not merely who would arrive but who would start. Markus Schubert, the 28-year-old who had served as Seimen’s deputy, extended his contract and competed for the role . The two goalkeepers were given identical minutes in pre-season, and the opportunities to distinguish themselves were rare. “We were positively surprised that the keepers had so little to do in the tests and barely had to make any saves,” Kettemann admitted .
The decision came down to a single quality: playing with the ball. “That’s where Nahuel is at a top level,” Kettemann explained. “But Schubi has also developed brilliantly. I’ve never seen such a good Schubi. He’s ready at any time and I’d trust him to do it. But for the moment, Nahuel has his nose in front” . Noll was confirmed as the number one for the Bundesliga opener at Mainz .
This is the story of Paderborn’s 2026/27 goalkeepers: a loanee entrusted with the club’s top-flight survival, a deputy whose patience and quality have earned the respect of his coach, and a young third choice waiting for his opportunity.
Tactical Context
Kettemann’s Paderborn is a newly promoted side navigating the step up in quality that the Bundesliga demands. The goalkeeper’s role within that structure is demanding: he must command his area against crosses, distribute accurately under pressure, and provide the vocal organisation that a defence facing relegation requires.
Noll’s profile fits the system precisely. Standing 6ft 3in, he is a commanding presence, but it is his quality in possession that convinced Kettemann to entrust him with the number one shirt . In the modern Bundesliga, a goalkeeper who can participate in build-up play and remain composed under a press is not a luxury but a necessity, particularly for a promoted side that will face sustained pressure.
The early-season numbers reveal a goalkeeper who has been tested. In his first three Bundesliga appearances, Noll faced 17 shots on target, saved 13, and conceded four goals—a save percentage of 76.5% . By mid-October, he had made seven saves in a single match against Werder Bremen, a 2-2 draw that demonstrated both his shot-stopping ability and the volume of work that Paderborn’s defence requires from its goalkeeper . The clean sheet against Hamburger SV in late October, a 1-0 victory, was the first of his Bundesliga career .
The tactical question Kettemann has navigated is how to manage the relationship between his two senior goalkeepers. The decision to start Noll was made on footballing grounds, but the coach has been careful to acknowledge Schubert’s quality and professionalism. The gesture of allowing Schubert to start the DFB-Pokal fixture against Phönix Lübeck—after Noll himself suggested it—was a reflection of the respect within the department .
The Goalkeepers
Nahuel Noll
Noll is the undisputed number one and the player upon whom Paderborn’s Bundesliga survival depends. The 23-year-old German-Spaniard, born in Munich, arrived on loan from Hoffenheim for a fee of approximately €500,000 . His previous two seasons had been spent on loan in the 2. Bundesliga, where he made 29 appearances for Greuther Fürth and 34 for Hannover 96, keeping 10 clean sheets in his final campaign with the Lower Saxony club .
His profile is that of a modern, ball-playing goalkeeper. His quality in possession was the decisive factor in Kettemann’s decision, and his distribution under pressure has been a feature of Paderborn’s build-up play . At 23, he is at an age where regular Bundesliga football represents the natural next step in his development, and his performances in the opening months have justified the faith placed in him.
The concern is the lack of top-flight experience. Noll had never played in the Bundesliga before this season, and the step up from the 2. Bundesliga is significant. The goals conceded against Dortmund and Stuttgart exposed the gap in quality between the divisions, but his save percentage of 76.5% suggests a goalkeeper capable of adapting .
Markus Schubert
Schubert is the experienced deputy whose patience has been tested but whose professionalism has earned praise. The 28-year-old from Freiberg has been at Paderborn since 2024 and extended his contract in June 2026 despite knowing that he would likely begin the season as the number two . His previous campaign had been disrupted by a loss of form and a period behind Manuel Riemann, but his response in pre-season convinced Kettemann that he remained a genuine alternative .
His profile is that of a reliable, Bundesliga-experienced goalkeeper. Schubert has made 12 Bundesliga appearances across his career, and his familiarity with the demands of the top flight offers something that Noll lacks . Whether he earns an opportunity depends on Noll’s form and fitness, but his presence ensures that standards remain high.
Florian Pruhs
Pruhs is the third-choice goalkeeper, a 20-year-old who has been integrated into the first-team squad . His opportunities at senior level are likely to be limited, but his presence reflects Paderborn’s commitment to developing internal solutions for the future.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Paderborn Goalkeeper Bundesliga Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals Conceded | Saves | Save % | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nahuel Noll | 3 (3) | 270 | 4 | 13 | 76.5% | 1 |
TABLE B: Paderborn Goalkeeping Unit – Key Metrics (2026/27)
TABLE C: Goalkeeper Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nahuel Noll | Germany/Spain | Hoffenheim, Hannover 96 (loan), Greuther Fürth (loan) | Ball-playing, composed, modern |
| Markus Schubert | Germany | Schalke, Vitória Guimarães | Experienced, reliable, deputy |
| Florian Pruhs | Germany | Paderborn Academy | Development prospect |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Paderborn’s goalkeeping department reflects the club’s broader approach as a newly promoted side: financial prudence, targeted loans, and a reliance on players with something to prove. The decision to replace Seimen with Noll, rather than investing in a permanent signing, was a calculated gamble on a goalkeeper whose quality in possession suited Kettemann’s system .
The early-season evidence suggests the gamble has been partially justified. Noll has produced saves in volume, and his clean sheet against Hamburg demonstrated an ability to deliver results when protected by a structured defence . But the step up in quality has exposed the limits of a back line that was assembled for the 2. Bundesliga, and the goalkeeper has been busy as a result.
The vulnerability is the lack of a proven alternative if Noll suffers a dip in form. Schubert is experienced and capable, but he has not played regular Bundesliga football in years, and the drop-off in ball-playing quality would require Kettemann to adjust his build-up approach.
The Verdict from the Camp
Ralf Kettemann, on the goalkeeping decision:
“That’s where Nahuel is at a top level. But Schubi has also developed brilliantly. I’ve never seen such a good Schubi. He’s ready at any time and I’d trust him to do it. But for the moment, Nahuel has his nose in front.”
Kettemann, on Noll’s gesture:
“You have to take your hat off to Nahuel, that he also respects this performance from Schubi and gives him this game.”
Sebastian Lange, Sporting Director, on Noll’s arrival:
“We’re delighted that Nahuel has chosen our Sportclub, he fits very well with our philosophy. Nahuel has gained a lot of match practice at a high level in recent years and shown that he has enormous qualities.”
Where Next?
Paderborn’s goalkeeping priority is clear: they need Noll to adapt to the Bundesliga’s demands and maintain his form. The 23-year-old has the ball-playing quality that Kettemann values, but the step up in quality from the 2. Bundesliga is unforgiving, and the margin for error in a relegation battle is thin.
The development of Schubert is the most intriguing subplot. If Noll falters, the experienced deputy offers a ready-made alternative, albeit one who would require a change in Paderborn’s build-up approach. The respect between the two goalkeepers, demonstrated by Noll’s gesture of giving Schubert the cup match, suggests a healthy dynamic that Kettemann will need to manage carefully .
The January window is unlikely to bring reinforcements. Paderborn’s financial constraints and the existing depth in the department suggest that faith will be placed in Noll and Schubert. The question is whether that pair is good enough to keep Paderborn in the Bundesliga, or whether the loanee’s adaptation will prove to be the difference between survival and relegation.
