Villa sign Goretzka - what went wrong at Bayern and what will he bring?

Leon Goretzka arrived at Bayern Munich from Schalke in the summer of 2018, immediately described as a modern midfielder capable of filling every role in the middle of the park. Peter Neururer, his manager at hometown club Bochum, labelled him a "once-in-a-century talent" when he was just 18, suggesting the player seemed destined to define the decade. Although Goretzka has most often operated as a number six—frequently alongside Joshua Kimmich for both Bayern and Germany—he has also been used as an emergency centre‑back and as a number ten when required. Deploying him higher up the pitch has highlighted his goal‑scoring instincts; his well‑timed runs and physical presence make him a potent aerial threat on crosses. That combination has seen coaches turn to him whenever competition in central midfield has intensified. A notable illustration came in March and June 2025, when Goretzka again resembled a regular starter for Germany during the Nations League finals, earning a place in Nagelmann’s starting XI. Yet such opportunities have become increasingly scarce in recent seasons. Injuries have haunted Goretzka since his youth, obscuring any clear picture of what his peak might have looked like in his twenties. While he has rarely suffered major damage, persistent minor setbacks have repeatedly surfaced at inconvenient moments. He appeared to reach the height of his powers in the 2020‑21 season, arriving fresh from a Champions League victory with Bayern during the pandemic‑affected campaign. Instead of driving Germany’s midfield at Euro 2020, he missed the opening group match because of a hamstring injury’s after‑effects, his sole start coming against England at Wembley in the round of 16. When fit, Goretzka remained a Bayern starter until Kompany’s achievement in 2024. Even after an initial spell on the bench, he fought his way back into the lineup. Ultimately, the rise of Aleksandar Pavlovic—a Munich‑born product of the Bayern academy—has sealed Goretzka’s fate at the club.