CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | VfB Stuttgart |
| League | Bundesliga |
| Manager | Sebastian Hoeneß |
| Stadium | MHPArena |
| Nickname | Die Schwaben |
| Founded | 1893 |
| First Choice | Dennis Seimen |
| Deputy | Fabian Bredlow |
| Current League Position | Bundesliga / Champions League |
The Defining Moment
VfB Stuttgart’s goalkeeping department entered 2026/27 with a clarity that was supposed to be the foundation of a Champions League campaign. Dennis Seimen, the 20-year-old German youth international, had been confirmed as the undisputed number one after a stellar loan season at SC Paderborn, where he helped the club achieve promotion to the Bundesliga. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth was unequivocal: “Dennis had a fantastic season in Paderborn. He is not an experiment; we fully believe he is ready for the role as our number one. There are no differing opinions within the club – we all share that view” .
The defining moment of the summer came not on the pitch, but in a training session. On 22 July 2026, Stuttgart announced that Seimen had suffered a muscle injury in the back of his thigh and would be unavailable until at least the end of September . The goalkeeper who was meant to replace Alexander Nübel—returned to Bayern Munich after three seasons on loan—was suddenly absent for the season’s opening phase, including the start of the Champions League campaign.
Wohlgemuth’s response was measured but candid. “These are definitely bad news, because we can already say that Dennis and Justin will not be available for the first phase of the season. On the goalkeeper position, our personnel planning for the coming season was known to be largely complete. We also have a lot of quality in our goalkeeping team without Dennis, but we still have to discuss in the coming days whether we will become active on the transfer market again” .
This is the story of Stuttgart’s 2026/27 goalkeepers: a young talent whose body betrayed him at the worst possible moment, a veteran deputy thrust into the spotlight, and a supporting cast of stopgaps and prospects navigating a Champions League season without their intended number one.
Tactical Context
Sebastian Hoeneß’s Stuttgart is a team built on aggressive, possession-oriented football. The coach who led the club to a surprise third-place finish and Champions League qualification demands a goalkeeper comfortable with the ball at his feet, capable of initiating build-up against pressing forwards and acting as an auxiliary defender behind a high line.
Seimen’s profile suits this system precisely. The 20-year-old, standing 192 centimetres and left-footed, is classified as a sweeper-keeper—a goalkeeper who “plays high, commands the space behind the defence and starts attacks with his distribution” . His strongest attributes are long passing, distribution, shot-stopping, and claiming crosses. In the early weeks before his injury, he started three Bundesliga matches and one Champions League fixture, averaging ratings of 6.7 and 6.8 .
The injury forced Hoeneß to recalibrate. Fabian Bredlow, the 31-year-old veteran, stepped in and delivered exactly what was required: reliability without spectacle. In four Bundesliga appearances, Bredlow saved 15 shots and completed 23.4 kilometres of running, his experience compensating for the absence of Seimen’s youthful dynamism . Hoeneß was explicit in his confidence: “In principle, we are very satisfied with the goalkeeping team and especially with Fabi. As it stands now, we see no need to bring in a new goalkeeper. Generally, we have confidence in our boys” .
The tactical challenge is the transition. Seimen was signed to be the long-term successor to Nübel, a goalkeeper capable of growing into the Champions League level. His injury delayed that development by months. Bredlow, at 31, is not the future; he is the present. The question is whether the present is sufficient while the future heals.
The Goalkeepers
Dennis Seimen
Seimen is the intended number one and the player upon whom Stuttgart’s long-term goalkeeping plan depends. The 20-year-old German youth international arrived back at his parent club after a loan season at SC Paderborn that could hardly have gone better: 34 league appearances, promotion to the Bundesliga, and a reputation as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Germany .
His profile is that of the modern sweeper-keeper. Standing 192 centimetres and left-footed, he combines physical presence with the technical quality to participate in build-up play. His distribution is his strongest attribute—ranking in the top 15% of Bundesliga goalkeepers for distribution per 90—and his shot-stopping and command of the box are developing rapidly . He is not a finished product, but he is precisely the kind of goalkeeper Hoeneß wants for a team that dominates possession and defends high.
The injury that has defined his season was a cruel interruption. A muscle injury in the back of his thigh, sustained in pre-season training, kept him out until October. By the time he returned, Bredlow had established himself as a reliable deputy, and the competition for the number one shirt became a genuine contest rather than a coronation . Seimen will reclaim the role when fully fit, but the delay has cost him valuable adaptation time at the highest level.
Fabian Bredlow
Bredlow is the veteran deputy who has become the unexpected protagonist of Stuttgart’s goalkeeping season. The 31-year-old, standing 190 centimetres, has been at the club since 2020 and has always been the reliable backup—never the star, never the problem. When Seimen was injured, Bredlow stepped in and delivered exactly what Hoeneß needed: competence without drama.
His numbers reflect a goalkeeper performing within his limitations. Four Bundesliga appearances, 15 shots saved, and a passing accuracy that reflects Stuttgart’s possession-heavy approach . He is not a sweeper-keeper in the Seimen mould; he is a traditional shot-stopper who knows his role and executes it. Hoeneß’s public confidence in him was not merely polite—it was a genuine assessment of a player who has earned the trust of the dressing room.
At 31, Bredlow is in the twilight of his career. He is not the long-term solution, but he is precisely the kind of experienced professional that a Champions League club needs in its goalkeeping department. When Seimen returns to full fitness, Bredlow will return to the bench. Whether he accepts that transition with the same professionalism he has shown throughout his career will determine the harmony of the department.
Marius Funk and Stefan Drljaca
Funk, a 30-year-old signed from Energie Cottbus, and Drljaca, a 27-year-old who has never played above the 3. Liga, complete the senior goalkeeping corps . Their presence is a reflection of squad regulations and the need for emergency cover rather than a genuine competition for places. Neither is expected to feature for the first team unless injury strikes again.
Fabian Hellstern
Hellstern, an 18-year-old academy graduate, extended his contract in the summer and represents the pipeline that Stuttgart’s model depends on . He is not yet ready for first-team football, but his development will be monitored as the club plans for the post-Bredlow era.
The Numbers Game
Table A: VfB Stuttgart Goalkeeper Bundesliga Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Shots Saved | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabian Bredlow | 4 (4) | 360 | 15 | Deputy; reliable |
| Dennis Seimen | 5 (5) | 450 | — | Injured; returning |
| Marius Funk | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | Third choice |
| Stefan Drljaca | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | Fourth choice |
Table B: VfB Stuttgart Goalkeeper Unit – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Seimen Injury Timeline | Out until October | Muscle injury (thigh) |
| Seimen Average Rating | 6.7 | In Bundesliga appearances |
| Bredlow Shots Saved | 15 | In 4 Bundesliga matches |
| Bredlow Distance Covered | 23.4 km | In 4 matches |
| Seimen Market Value | €9.7m | Among squad’s most valuable |
Table C: Goalkeeper Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Seimen | Germany | SC Paderborn (loan), VfB Academy | Sweeper-keeper, distribution, developing |
| Fabian Bredlow | Germany | — | Traditional shot-stopper, experienced, reliable |
| Marius Funk | Germany | Energie Cottbus | Emergency cover, limited Bundesliga experience |
| Stefan Drljaca | Germany | — | Fourth choice, no top-flight experience |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Stuttgart’s goalkeeping unit is a study in disrupted planning. The club entered the summer with a clear hierarchy: Seimen as the long-term number one, Bredlow as the reliable deputy, and the supporting cast providing depth. The injury to Seimen in pre-season forced a recalibration that no amount of planning could have anticipated.
The numbers tell a story of adequacy rather than excellence. Bredlow’s four appearances and 15 saves reflect a goalkeeper doing exactly what was asked of him: making the saves he should make, avoiding mistakes, and allowing the team in front of him to function. He is not a goalkeeper who wins points single-handedly, but in a team with Stuttgart’s attacking quality, he does not need to be.
The depth is adequate but not abundant. Funk and Drljaca are emergency options rather than genuine alternatives. If Bredlow were to suffer an injury before Seimen’s return, Stuttgart would face a genuine crisis. The club’s decision not to enter the transfer market after Seimen’s injury was a calculated risk—one that has so far been vindicated by Bredlow’s performances.
The January window is unlikely to see goalkeeping reinforcements. Seimen will have returned by then, and the club’s resources are better directed toward the outfield positions that will determine whether Stuttgart can compete on three fronts. The priority is to manage Seimen’s return carefully, ensuring that the young goalkeeper is not rushed back into a role that his body is not yet ready to sustain.
The Verdict from the Camp
Fabian Wohlgemuth, on Seimen’s injury:
“These are definitely bad news, because we can already say that Dennis and Justin will not be available for the first phase of the season. On the goalkeeper position, our personnel planning for the coming season was known to be largely complete. We also have a lot of quality in our goalkeeping team without Dennis, but we still have to discuss in the coming days whether we will become active on the transfer market again” .
Sebastian Hoeneß, on the goalkeeping situation:
“I spoke with Dennis. Of course, he’s disappointed. But, by now, he’s already back in the mode of looking forward. We’re doing everything we can to get him back as quickly as possible. In principle, we are very satisfied with the goalkeeping team and especially with Fabi. As it stands now, we see no need to bring in a new goalkeeper. Generally, we have confidence in our boys” .
Wohlgemuth, on Seimen’s potential:
“Dennis had a fantastic season in Paderborn. He is not an experiment; we fully believe he is ready for the role as our number one. There are no differing opinions within the club – we all share that view” .
Where Next?
Stuttgart’s goalkeeping priority is clear: they need Seimen to return to full fitness and reclaim the number one shirt. The young goalkeeper was signed to be the long-term successor to Nübel, and the club’s Champions League ambitions depend on his development. Bredlow has performed admirably in his absence, but he is a bridge, not a destination.
The development of Seimen is the most intriguing subplot. At 20, he has the technical profile and the mentality to become one of Germany’s finest goalkeepers. The injury was a setback, but it was not a career-threatening one. The challenge for Hoeneß is to reintegrate him without disrupting the stability that Bredlow has provided. A gradual transition—cup matches, then Champions League, then the Bundesliga—may be the pragmatic approach.
The January window is unlikely to bring changes. Stuttgart’s resources are limited, and the goalkeeping department, for all its disruption, has functioned effectively. The priority is to maintain the current equilibrium and hope that Seimen’s body allows him to fulfil the potential that persuaded the club to make him their number one.
For now, Stuttgart’s goalkeepers are a unit defined by disrupted plans and unexpected resilience. Seimen watches and waits, Bredlow delivers, and the supporting cast provides depth without drama. The question is whether the intended number one can return before the season’s decisive moments arrive. The early-season evidence suggests that Bredlow is a capable caretaker—but the future belongs to Seimen, and Stuttgart need him back.
