Danilho Doekhi has been named 1. FC Union Berlin’s player of the season for the 2025-26 campaign, securing the majority of votes from a panel of writers. The centre-back received six votes out of a possible ten, recognizing his consistent performances throughout the Bundesliga season.
Union Berlin have established a pattern of solid, if unspectacular, league form in recent years, consistently avoiding relegation while rarely mounting a serious challenge for European qualification. Doekhi’s presence in the team has been central to their defensive stability, forming a key part of a rearguard that consistently ranks among the better defenses in the lower half of the table.
At 27 years old, Doekhi is entering his prime and demonstrated his value by playing every minute of Union Berlin’s 34 league games. His reliability proved crucial for the Köpenick side, contributing not only defensively but also in attack, finishing as the team’s joint-second top scorer with five goals – one behind Oliver Burke.
Beyond goals, Doekhi’s statistical output highlights his all-around contribution. He helped secure seven clean sheets, achieved the seventh-best duel success rate in the league with 341 successful duels, and covered the twelfth-most distance at 359.7km. Despite his individual accolades, a summer transfer appears increasingly likely for the Netherlands international.
A standout performance for Doekhi came in a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich on Matchday 10. Despite an early goal being disallowed, he ultimately scored twice from corners, briefly giving Union the lead against the eventual champions. Although Bayern ultimately equalized in injury time, Doekhi’s performance, including a 100% duel success rate in that match, was a highlight of his season.
Andrej Ilic received nominations from the writing team, finishing the campaign with five goals and nine assists. Leopold Querfeld and Rani Khedira also earned votes, with Querfeld ranking eighth in the league for duels won and Khedira contributing five goals and an assist. These contributions underscore the overall team effort at Union Berlin, but Doekhi’s consistency and impact ultimately set him apart.
