Malik Tillman

Key strength: Vision and passing

Creative playmaker

At Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the €35 million gamble on Malik Tillman is paying spectacular dividends. In a Bundesliga campaign where Xabi Alonso's side sit 6th and chasing European places, the 23-year-old American attacking midfielder has emerged as their creative heartbeat—delivering 6 goals and 1 assist across 25 appearances this season. The former Bayern Munich academy product, signed for a significant €35m fee, has transformed from promising prospect to genuine match-winner. With nearly 1,800 minutes of action, Tillman's evolution is stark: once viewed as a pure playmaker (boasting 69-rated passing), he's now averaging a goal every 297 minutes while linking brilliantly with striker Patrik Schick. Leverkusen's recent form—three wins in their last four—coincides with Tillman hitting his stride. His 78 overall rating and creative vision make him the connective tissue between midfield and attack, embodying Alonso's philosophy of technically gifted, tactically intelligent footballers. For a club rebuilding its Champions League credentials, Tillman's development from Bayern cast-off to Leverkusen linchpin could define their season. At 23, he's proving American talent belongs on Europe's biggest stages.