Waldemar Anton: Borussia Dortmund’s defensive pillar making his case for Germany
Borussia Dortmund’s impressive defensive record under Niko Kovač owes plenty to Waldemar Anton. Having helped BVB navigate the start of the season without Nico Schlotterbeck, the centre-back is taking the consistency, composure and leadership he offers his club into Germany’s new era under Jürgen Klopp.
Despite the lack of club football, the summer months proved far from stress-free for Dortmund's hierarchy. Alongside negotiating a host of transfers, the club had to contend with the loss of star defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who injured his ankle at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with Germany.
This meant that BVB would head into the new Bundesliga season without their vice captain and also captain Emre Can for at least the first few matches. Who, then, would step up to lead the backline in their absence?
Watch: Anton's highlight reel
The answer was soon apparent. Anton, who joined Dortmund in the summer of 2024 from VfB Stuttgart, took a little while to settle into his new surroundings. But the Germany international has built on his strong start to the calendar year this term, proving to be a model of consistency from the very outset.
Alongside youngsters like Joane Gadou and Filippo Mane, Anton has helped BVB record three clean sheets in their first four Bundesliga matches. In the most recent of those clashes, a 1-0 win against his former club Stuttgart, Anton was once again alongside Schlotterbeck in the heart of the Dortmund defensive line.
And yet, barring a dramatic 3-2 victory away at Hoffenheim, it says a lot that - defensively at least - Kovač's side have held their own this term without their two nominal leaders at the back.
“Waldi is a leader! But what’s even more important to me is that he’s someone who leads by example,” Kovač said of Anton before September’s UEFA Champions League opener against Villarreal.
For the 30-year-old, his next opportunity to underline his value comes with Germany. Klopp included the Dortmund defender in his selection for the UEFA Nations League fixtures against Serbia on 1 October and Greece three days later, as part of the two squads named for his first international window.
The challenge is to turn his standing at club level into a more prominent international role. His qualities had already been recognised by Klopp’s predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann, who described him as “an absolute glue for the team” and “a quiet leader”.
Those words neatly capture what Anton offers. He brings experience to a changing defence, takes responsibility when senior teammates are missing and gives his coach a player he can implicitly trust.
Anton’s reliability was a significant part of that success. He completed all 35 of his starts across the Bundesliga and DFB Cup last season, while his 91 percent passing accuracy underlined the security he offers in possession.
With Klopp assessing his centre-back options over the coming months, Anton looks as well placed as any German defender to become a dependable member of the new head coach's squad. Indeed, the BVB connection might just be about to blossom.
