It is no secret to anyone that Joshua Kimmich, despite having played on more than one occasion as a right-back, is currently one of the best midfielders in the world. Fortunately for him, with the arrival of Vincent Kompany to the Bayern Munich bench, he has not hesitated to definitively position him as a pivot, which has been beneficial for the '6', who is demonstrating a stellar level as the axis of the midfield.
The German has become a key pivot to link defense with attack, how? Basically, by being responsible for dropping back to receive the ball from the defenders. He also finds a way to move the ball forward, demonstrating remarkable ability to retain possession and, through precise deliveries, place a teammate in a more favorable position to continue the offensive play.
The spectacular statistic led by Joshua Kimmich
This is not mere rhetoric; it is backed by a relevant statistical fact. According to a study by the Football Observatory (CIES) analyzing the performances of midfielders in the top 18 European leagues, the Brasileirão, and Liga MX, it is suggested that Joshua Kimmich is the most secure midfielder in the world at maintaining possession in high-pressure situations from opponents. This report considers a minimum of 60 high-pressure situations during the ongoing 2024-25 season.
The German midfielder leads this statistic with a 95.8% success rate in such actions. In this regard, other notable names on the list include Real Madrid's midfielder, Aurélien Tchouaméni, ranking fourth with 92%, Paris Saint-Germain's midfielder, Warren Zaïre-Emery, in sixth place with 91.9%, and a familiar face from Barça, Stanislav Lobotka from Olympique de Marseille, at 90.8% in ninth place. These are the most representative names from a list of 20 players detailed further on FCBN:
| PLAYER | TEAM | RETENTION % |
|---|---|---|
| Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich | 95.8% |
| Samuele Ricci | Torino FC | 92.5% |
| Rafael Carioca | Tigres UANL | 92.2% |
| Aurelien Tchouameni | Real Madrid | 92.0% |
| Mario Dorgeles | FC Nordsjaelland | 92.0% |
| Warren Zaire-Emery | Paris Saint-Germain | 91.9% |
| Valentino Muller | WSG Tirol | 91.8% |
| Vitinha | Paris Saint-Germain | 91.5% |
| Stanislav Lobotka | SSC Napoli | 90.8% |
| Zidan Sertdemir | FC Nordsjaelland | 90.2% |
| Elisha Owusu | AJ Auxerre | 90.2% |
| Reda Belahyane | Hellas Verona | 90.1% |
| Tomas Rigo | Banik Ostrava | 90.1% |
| Kaan Kairinen | Sparta Prague | 90.1% |
| Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg | Olympique Marseille | 90.1% |
| Enzo Millot | VfB Stuttgart | 90.1% |
| Andre Trindade | Fluminense | 90.1% |
| Lincoln Oliveira | RB Bragantino | 89.9% |
| Jesper Ceesay | IFK Norrkoping | 89.9% |
| Dennis Dressel | Grazer AK | 89.9% |
Kimmich is becoming an increasingly sought-after asset in the market
Perhaps this is one of the many attributes that make the German midfielder particularly attractive to several European clubs, especially to FC Barcelona, which has been looking for a midfielder with these characteristics since Sergio Busquets' departure. Joshua Kimmich knows how to play well in terms of ball retention and effective distribution from that position, a skill that few midfielders currently handle as adeptly as he does.
However, it is clear to Barça that the pursuit of the German midfielder is not, at the moment, the easiest of tasks. Despite his contract with Bayern Munich expiring on June 30, 2025, the rapport he is showing with Vincent Kompany and his willingness to renew his contract with the Bavarians could lead to an agreement between both parties in the near future.
This would definitively close the door for FC Barcelona and any other club interested in the midfielder, who would not arrive as a free agent, but rather they would have to negotiate a transfer with Bayern Munich. This transfer is expected to be costly, given that Kimmich is a top-level pivot on the international scene.