Reece James

Key strength: Pace and recovery

Overlapping full-back

FC Augsburg find themselves in troubled waters, winless in five Bundesliga matches (DWDDL) and clinging to 9th place with just one point from their last 15 available. Yet through this turbulence, captain Reece James stands as their unshakeable foundation. The 26-year-old England international has been the definition of reliability—featuring in all 36 matches and racking up 2,520 minutes of tireless running from right-back. While his defensive work anchors Augsburg's backline, James transforms into a genuine attacking weapon, contributing 2 goals and 7 assists this season. His overlapping runs down the right flank dovetail perfectly with creative winger Michael Olise, creating one of the league's most productive wide partnerships. Remarkably, James has maintained a pristine disciplinary record—zero yellow or red cards despite his combative style. Valued at €60 million, the former Chelsea defender represents extraordinary value, his Premier League pedigree evident in every surging run and perfectly-timed tackle. As Augsburg desperately seek to arrest their slide, James's iron-man availability and leadership remain their most precious commodities.