CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | SC Paderborn 07 |
| League | Bundesliga |
| Manager | Ralf Kettemann |
| Stadium | Home Deluxe Arena |
| Nickname | SCP |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Midfield Anchor | Santiago Castañeda |
| Marquee Arrival | Gabriel Vidović (€2m from Dinamo Zagreb) |
| Key Departure | Mika Baur (Celtic, ~€6m) |
| Defining Trait | A midfield rebuilt on lower-league grit and Bayern academy rejects |
The Defining Moment
Paderborn’s midfield entered the 2026/27 season with a void that defined the club’s summer. Mika Baur, the 22-year-old who had been the “linchpin of the central midfield” during the promotion campaign—four goals and six assists in 33 of 34 league matches—departed for Celtic Glasgow in a deal worth up to €8 million . The club that had just secured its first Bundesliga promotion in six years was suddenly without its most creative central presence.
The defining response was not a single replacement but a collection of gambles. Tom Baack arrived on a free transfer from Nürnberg, a 27-year-old defensive midfielder whose “game intelligence, permanent high running and duel behaviour, consistent ball wins and great commitment” were precisely the qualities sporting director Sebastian Lange identified as necessary for the step up . Gabriel Vidović arrived from Dinamo Zagreb for a club-record €2 million, a Bayern academy graduate whose seven goals and six assists in Croatia offered the creative spark that Baur’s departure had removed . And Laurin Ulrich joined on loan from VfB Stuttgart, a 21-year-old German U20 international whose technical quality and experience in the 2. Bundesliga and 3. Liga provided depth in the engine room .
The defining tension of Paderborn’s midfield season is therefore one of adaptation. The players who secured promotion—Santiago Castañeda, Raphael Obermair, Sebastian Klaas—remain the foundation. But the Bundesliga demands a level of quality and consistency that the 2. Bundesliga did not, and the new arrivals are still finding their feet. By late October, Paderborn sat 14th in the Bundesliga with two wins from eight matches, a position that reflected a midfield still calibrating to the step up .
This is the story of Paderborn’s 2026/27 midfielders: a Colombian anchor holding the line, a Croatian playmaker seeking to justify a record fee, and a supporting cast of lower-league arrivals and promotion heroes navigating the most demanding season of their careers.
Tactical Context
Kettemann’s Paderborn has moved away from the pure 3-4-3 of the promotion campaign toward a 3-4-2-1 that provides greater compactness without abandoning the club’s possession-oriented identity . The midfield four is the engine of that system: two central midfielders screening the defence and progressing the ball, with two attacking midfielders operating ahead of them in support of the lone striker.
The early-season numbers reveal a midfield that has been functional rather than dominant. Paderborn’s attacking output has been modest, with the goalscoring burden distributed across the forward line and the wide players rather than concentrated in the engine room . Castañeda has been the one constant, starting all eight league matches and contributing one goal from his deep-lying position . Ulrich has started seven of eight, his energy and technical quality offering the vertical thrust that Kettemann demands . Baack, despite his pedigree, has been used primarily from the bench, his five appearances yielding just one start .
The tactical question Kettemann has navigated is how to replace Baur’s creativity without sacrificing the defensive solidity that a newly promoted side requires. Vidović was signed to address that gap, and his early contributions—including a goal in the DFB-Pokal—suggest he can provide the spark that Paderborn lacked . But the step up from Croatian football to the Bundesliga is significant, and his integration into the starting XI has been gradual.
The Midfielders
Santiago Castañeda
Castañeda is the anchor of Paderborn’s midfield and the one player whose presence Kettemann has not been able to do without. The 21-year-old American-Colombian has started every league match this season, his 810 minutes placing him among the squad’s most-used players . His profile is that of a modern defensive midfielder: positionally disciplined, comfortable in possession, and capable of breaking up play without fanfare.
His goal against Hamburger SV in the 1-0 victory was a rare attacking contribution, but it reflected a growing confidence in his ability to influence the game beyond his defensive duties . At 21, Castañeda is entering the years when a midfielder either consolidates his reputation or drifts into mediocrity. His trajectory suggests the former, and Paderborn’s survival hopes depend on him maintaining his development.
Laurin Ulrich
Ulrich is the loan arrival whose integration has been surprisingly rapid. The 21-year-old from VfB Stuttgart has started seven of Paderborn’s eight league matches, his energy and technical quality offering the vertical thrust that Kettemann’s system demands . His loan move was a direct response to Baur’s departure, and his performances have justified the faith placed in him .
His profile is that of a modern, box-to-box midfielder. Ulrich is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, capable of turning and driving forward, and willing to engage in the defensive work that the Bundesliga demands. At 21, he represents both an immediate solution and a player whose development could attract interest from Stuttgart or elsewhere.
Tom Baack
Baack is the free-transfer arrival whose experience was intended to provide stability in the engine room. The 27-year-old from Nürnberg arrived with a reputation for “game intelligence, permanent high running and duel behaviour, consistent ball wins and great commitment” . His contract until 2028 with an option for a further season reflected a belief that he could make the step up from the 2. Bundesliga.
His early-season role, however, has been primarily from the bench. Five appearances, one start, and 161 minutes by late October suggest that Kettemann views him as a squad option rather than a starter . His experience remains valuable within a dressing room navigating its first Bundesliga campaign in six years, but his on-pitch contribution has yet to match the expectations that accompanied his arrival.
Raphael Obermair
Obermair is the long-serving wide midfielder whose versatility has made him a fixture in Kettemann’s squad. The 30-year-old Filipino-German has started all eight league matches, his energy and delivery from wide areas offering a consistent outlet on the flank . His profile is that of a reliable, tactically disciplined wide player who can operate in a variety of roles depending on the opponent.
At 30, Obermair is in his prime, and his experience of the club’s promotion campaign provides continuity within a squad that has undergone significant turnover.
Gabriel Vidović
Vidović is the marquee arrival, the club-record signing whose €2 million fee from Dinamo Zagreb represented a statement of intent from a club unaccustomed to such expenditure . The 22-year-old Bayern academy graduate arrived with seven goals and six assists from his final season in Croatia, and his early contributions—including a goal in the DFB-Pokal—suggest he can provide the creative spark that Baur’s departure removed .
His profile is that of a modern attacking midfielder: technically gifted, capable of operating between the lines, and composed in front of goal. His integration into the starting XI has been gradual, but his quality is undeniable. At 22, he represents both an immediate solution and a long-term investment.
Sebastian Klaas
Klaas is the promotion hero whose role has diminished in the step up. The 28-year-old has made limited appearances this season, his experience offering depth rather than a starting role. His presence within the dressing room remains valuable, but his on-pitch contribution has been restricted by the arrival of new options.
Luka Đurić and Ruben Müller
Đurić, a 23-year-old Bosnian, and Müller, a 21-year-old German, are the young midfielders integrated into the first-team squad . Their opportunities have been limited, but their presence reflects Paderborn’s commitment to developing internal solutions for the future.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Paderborn Midfielder Bundesliga Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Castañeda | 8 (8) | 810 | 1 | 0 |
| Laurin Ulrich | 8 (7) | ~600 | 0 | 0 |
| Raphael Obermair | 8 (8) | ~700 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Baack | 5 (1) | 161 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabriel Vidović | — | — | — | — |
TABLE B: Paderborn Midfield Unit – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Castañeda Minutes | 810 | Most of any Paderborn player |
| Baur Departure Fee | ~€6m rising to €8m | To Celtic |
| Vidović Transfer Fee | ~€2m | Club record |
| League Position | 14th | 2W-3D-3L after 8 matches |
TABLE C: Midfielder Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Castañeda | USA/Colombia | Paderborn Academy | Defensive anchor, disciplined, developing |
| Laurin Ulrich | Germany | VfB Stuttgart (loan) | Box-to-box, technical, energetic |
| Tom Baack | Germany | Nürnberg, SC Verl | Defensive, experienced, leader |
| Gabriel Vidović | Croatia/Germany | Dinamo Zagreb, Bayern Academy | Attacking, creative, goalscoring |
| Raphael Obermair | Philippines/Germany | Paderborn | Versatile, wide, reliable |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Paderborn’s midfield reflects the club’s broader approach as a newly promoted side: financial prudence, targeted investment in players whose value has been overlooked, and a willingness to trust promotion heroes supplemented by strategic arrivals. The decision to reinvest Baur’s transfer fee in Vidović and Ulrich, rather than pursuing a more expensive external solution, was a calculated gamble on potential and fit .
The early-season evidence suggests the gamble has been partially justified. Castañeda has been a reliable anchor, Ulrich has adapted quickly, and Obermair has provided continuity. Vidović’s integration is ongoing, but his quality is evident. The result is a midfield that has been functional rather than dominant—capable of competing physically but lacking the creative spark that Baur provided in the 2. Bundesliga.
The vulnerability identified by analysts is the lack of a proven goalscorer in the engine room. Castañeda’s one goal is a modest return, and the supporting cast has yet to contribute consistently. If Paderborn are to survive, the midfield must provide more than defensive solidity; it must also create and convert chances.
The Verdict from the Camp
Sebastian Lange, Sporting Director, on Tom Baack:
“Tom will help us with his overview, his mentality and his experience. He is a central midfielder who has a pronounced game intelligence. Tom is characterized by a permanently high running and duel behaviour, consistent ball wins and great commitment in all phases of the game. He also brings leadership strength on and off the pitch.”
Sebastian Lange, on Laurin Ulrich:
“Laurin is a technically enormously versed player who has a very high game intelligence. Despite his young years, he has already gained plenty of experience in the 2. Bundesliga and in the 3. Liga. We are convinced that Laurin will take the next step with us and that he fits our SCP07 perfectly on and off the pitch.”
Where Next?
Paderborn’s midfield priority is clear: they need Vidović to adapt to the Bundesliga’s demands and provide the creative spark that the department lacks, and they need Castañeda and Ulrich to maintain their development. The balance between defensive solidity and attacking output that Kettemann has sought in the opening months has been functional rather than fluent, and the margin for error in a relegation battle is unforgiving.
The development of Vidović is the most intriguing subplot. If the Croatian can translate his Dinamo Zagreb form to the Bundesliga, Paderborn possess a playmaker capable of unlocking defences and justifying the club-record fee. If he cannot, the reliance on Castañeda’s defensive work and Ulrich’s energy becomes even more pronounced.
The January window is unlikely to bring reinforcements. Paderborn’s financial constraints and the summer’s investment in Vidović and Ulrich suggest that faith will be placed in the current group. The question is whether that group—a Colombian anchor, a Stuttgart loanee, and a Bayern academy graduate—is good enough to sustain Paderborn’s Bundesliga status, or whether the departure of Baur will prove to be a loss that the summer’s reinvestment could not fully offset.
