Who will replace Manuel Neuer as Germany's next number one?
As Jürgen Klopp begins his tenure as Germany head coach, one of his first challenges is deciding who will be Manuel Neuer's successor in goal.
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the answer to that question seemed relatively clear. Oliver Baumann was viewed as Germany's first-choice goalkeeper for months and provided a steady presence throughout qualifying.
However, the 36-year-old stopper was not included in Klopp's XXL squad for the September and October international break, indicating his time with the national team may have passed.
Still, there are several high-profile contenders ready to make the leap and take over as the national team's next number one.
Marc-André ter Stegen
Club: Ajax (on loan from Barcelona)
Age: 34
International appearances: 44
Something of a forgotten man of late after suffering a string of serious injuries in the last two seasons, ter Stegen is now Germany's most experienced goalkeeper at international level. In fact, in many other eras he could easily have over 100 caps to his name.
The former Borussia Mönchengladbach shot-stopper has scaled the upper echelons of European football for almost his entire career, winning seven Spanish titles and a UEFA Champions League in the process, along with many other trophies. Now on loan at Ajax as he looks to regain his fitness, he now appears to be the frontrunner in the national team.
“For now, Marc-André ter Stegen will be the goalkeeper who starts the first game," Klopp said when announcing his first squad. "The team needs stability and a strong spine. If that spine is solid, you can bring plenty of youth in around it.
“I’ve known Marc-André for many years. For a long time, he was behind Manuel Neuer while still being one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He was injured at an unfortunate time, but he’s fit now and he’s the same goalkeeper he was before. He brings the experience we need and is doing a very good job at Ajax.”
Jonas Urbig
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 23
International appearances: 0
Neuer’s protégé Urbig has been developing at a steady rate over the last couple of years, first finding his feet at Cologne before moving to Bayern. The 23-year-old has now made 23 Bundesliga appearances, including 14 in 2025/26. During the World Cup, Urbig was once again given the chance to shadow his mentor as he travelled with the Germany squad to the US to gain valuable experience of international tournament football.
An impressive 11 clean sheets across all competitions has given Bayern fans optimism that he can fill the void once Neuer finally brings his illustrious career to an end. Will that also be the case with the national team?
Watch: The best of Jonas Urbig
Alexander Nübel
Club: Beşiktaş
Age: 29
International appearances: 3
Nübel has now moved on from Bayern, joining Beşiktaş after spending the previous five years away from the club on loan. The 29-year-old enjoyed a successful spell at VfB Stuttgart over the last three seasons, establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga's most reliable goalkeepers, but ultimately opted for a new challenge rather than returning to a crowded Bayern goalkeeping hierarchy.
During his time at Stuttgart, Nübel kept 38 clean sheets, including 11 in the Bundesliga during his final campaign. He was also part of Germany’s World Cup squad this summer, although he did not make an appearance.
Noah Atubolu
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt (on loan from Freiburg)
Age: 24
International appearances: 0
Atubolu was Freiburg’s first-choice goalkeeper from the 2023/24 season, and was an integral part of a team that reached the Europa League final last season.
The 24-year-old holds Freiburg's record for most minutes without conceding - an impressive run of 609 during the 2024/25 campaign. The stopper, on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt for 2026/27, has also established himself as a penalty-saving king, having become the first Bundesliga goalkeeper to save six spot-kicks in a row.
Watch: Atubolu's penalty saves
Finn Dahmen
Club: Augsburg
Age: 28
International appearances: 0
Dahmen is another goalkeeper who has been on the fringes of the Germany team in the last year, having been called up multiple times but yet to make an appearance. The 28-year-old secured regular first-team football at club level when he moved to Augsburg ahead of the 2023/24 season, and his reputation has only grown since.
His match-winning performance against Bayer Leverkusen in April earned Dahmen particular acclaim, as he helped Augsburg to all three points despite facing a staggering 36 shots. Additionally, Augsburg's custodian has played a key role in his team's unbeaten start to 2026/27 after three matchdays.
"Finn Dahmen is in both squads," said Klopp. "He's a very talented goalkeeper who I’d like to assess over a longer period."
