Marlon Ritter

Marlon Ritter's path to the Bundesliga ran through the reserves. At Borussia Mönchengladbach II he grew into a key player in the Regionalliga West, winning the division in the 2014/15 season, and a year later finished as the league's top scorer with 23 goals, part of 44 in 92 appearances for the second team. That form earned him a move to Fortuna Düsseldorf, though he was loaned straight back to Fortuna's own reserve side before a loan to SC Paderborn 07 turned into the making of him: 12 goals in 29 games as Paderborn won the 3. Liga and went up to the 2. Bundesliga, then a further promotion with the club to the Bundesliga in the 2018/19 season, followed by relegation the year after. Ritter joined 1. FC Kaiserslautern on a free transfer after his Paderborn contract was mutually terminated, and quickly became captain. He has driven the team's push through the 2. Bundesliga, scoring 10 goals with 4 assists in the 2023/24 season and 8 goals with 3 assists in 2024/25, and has carried that scoring form into the current campaign with 9 goals and 3 assists from 31 league appearances. One detail sets him apart from most midfielders: a grass allergy that irritates his skin, which he manages by playing in long sleeves and high socks regardless of the weather. He has also had to work through heel problems that flared up in late 2025 and early 2026. Ritter has never been capped by Germany at any youth or senior level.