Lorenz Assignon

Key strength: Pace and recovery

Overlapping full-back

In a season where VfB Stuttgart have defied every preseason prediction to sit 4th in the Bundesliga, French right-back Lorenz Assignon has quietly emerged as their most dependable performer. The 26-year-old has been virtually ever-present, racking up 33 appearances and logging 1,887 minutes of tireless industry down the right flank. While his modest stat line reads just 1 goal and 3 assists, Assignon's true value transcends numbers. As an overlapping full-back blessed with explosive recovery pace and sharp defensive intelligence, he stretches opposition defenses to create space for Stuttgart's attacking threats. His durability has been remarkable—only a solitary red card has interrupted his campaign. Valued at €9m, this tactically disciplined Frenchman embodies the modern full-back archetype perfectly. Despite Stuttgart's recent wobble (just one win in their last five: DWDDL), Assignon's relentless engine and positional nous continue to anchor their unlikely push for Champions League football. The Swabians may be stumbling, but their French full-back keeps running.