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| Joshua Kimmich |
Name: Joshua Kimmich
Club: RasenBallsport Leipzig
Position: Def Midfielder
Age: 19 (08 February, 1995)
Nationality: German
Height: 1.76 m
Weight: 70 kg
Key attributes: Tackling, passing, composure
How it all started
On January 2nd, the news broke that Bayern München would
be signing RB Leipzig's Joshua Kimmich in the summer. A player, both Pep Guardiola
and Matthias Sammer desperately wanted. The fee, believed to be around €7m,
will go to VfB Stuttgart however, who will be making use of their
buy-back-option. Leipzig will be left with a fee of €1.5m. With this transfer,
Joshua Kimmich essentially will become the most expensive player ever at that level.
But who is this kid? Joshua Kimmich
was born in Rottweil - a town around 50 miles from Stuttgart - on February 8th,
1995. With this close vicinity to Stuttgart in mind, it comes as no surprise
that he joined the academy of the Swabian Bundesliga club aged 12. His
development at the club and his progress through the youth teams was always of
a rapid nature. Joshua Kimmich generally seemed to be at least one year ahead of
everyone else - playing under 17 Bundesliga (South/South-West division) aged
15; and under 19 Bundesliga (SSW) aged 17. Thomas Sinz, who is in charge of one
of DFB's many specialised training bases, and who watched Joshua Kimmich closely from
the ages of 11 to 15 said about the player: "From day one, Joshua was
extremely driven and motivated, in every session. In my opinion, it was obvious
early on that he would become a professional player. He was always determined,
confident, but still helpful and down to earth." Years have passed, yet
the focus on confidence in Joshua Kimmich's game and development has not vanished.
Speaking about his move to Bayern he stated: "You certainly have to have
the confidence, to make it there [Bayern] long-term. And I have this
confidence."
Big developments waited for
the player in 2013. First, Joshua Kimmich completed his transfer to RB Leipzig in July
of 2013, then he was awarded with the prestigious Fritz-Walter-Medal (given to
the best young talents) in silver in the under 18 division. While he was now a
Leipzig player, Stuttgart were smart enough to insist on a buy-back-clause,
which in hindsight turned out pretty well.
His time at RB Leipzig and
style of play
Joshua Kimmich's
stint in Saxony was one of many triumphs. Immediate first team football,
admittedly for a third division club; promotion to 2. Bundesliga in 2014; won
the under 19 European Championships with Germany and another Fritz-Walter-Medal
(bronze in the under 19 division). Can't ask for much more. Even though Leipzig
is a club with big ambitions, coach Zorniger trusted young Joshua Kimmich entirely
from the start. The player made mistakes, yet also impressed with technique and
determination.
In terms of style, Joshua Kimmich is a defensive midfielder that likes to get
involved in attacks as well. Be it for the German youth sides or Leipzig,
Joshua Kimmich likes to drive forward, have shots and play final balls. In both sides
however, he is allowed to do so due to the dominance of the team, as well as
additional defensive cover. At Leipzig, he is often partnered with Rani Khedira
- another defensive midfielder. In possession and going forward, Joshua Kimmich is
easy on the eye. He possesses good technique, can dribble with the ball and has
both, the vision and ability for incisive passes in the final third. The
greater part of his work however is done a bit further back. Right in front of
the back four to be precise. In possession, he is the first option for the
keeper or the centre backs. While defending, he knows how to position himself
to approach tackles efficiently or to recover loose balls. His speed helps him
to correct mistakes or to get out of situations he has brought himself into. It
also has to be praised that Joshua Kimmich does not hide, as he is always available
for passes, nor does he shy away from tackles.
RB Leipzig
|
Kimmich
|
Duels win rate
|
52%
|
Touches
|
72.1
|
Passes (open play)
|
50.5
|
Pass %
|
74.5%
|
Goals
|
0
|
Shots
|
1.0
|
Assists
|
1
|
Key Passes
|
2.6
|
Strengths
- Passing range and vision - Kimmich's passing range is more than adequate for a defensive midfielder - especially his ability to spot a pass in the final third. His pass completion rate of only 74.5% is heavily linked to Leipzig's aggressive and direct style of player.
- Tackling - While he is not the most physically imposing player, he still uses his body well and is aggressive in the tackle.
- Composure - Mostly highlighted in the early stages of an attack. Even when put under pressure, he remains calm and plays simple football.
Weaknesses
- Consistency- As with any young player, consistency is key and can become an issue from time to time.
- Physique - He is not the tallest nor strongest DM and it has to be seen how he fares against fiercer and better opposition
Conclusion
Joshua Kimmich's move to Bayern is nothing
but a logical consequence of his talent and development. Even though
competition is high at Germany's best team, you can expect him to nail down a
place in the long run. Interestingly, his biggest competitor might be Pierre-Emile
Højbjerg, who is just a couple of months younger than Kimmich. Right now, he is
part of that amazing class of '95, which has produced players like Max Meyer,
Leon Goretzka or Serge Gnabry. In the summer, he too will join them at the
elite level.
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