With BVB since
Birthday
Nationality
Gregor Kobel
Youth and Senior Career
Gregor Kobel was born on December 6, 1997, in Zurich, Switzerland. The son of a former professional ice hockey player, he began his football career at Grasshopper Club Zurich, where he rose through the youth ranks. In the summer of 2014, the then 16-year-old moved to the youth academy of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Kobel first attracted national attention as early as 2016, competing in the final of the German U-19 championship. Facing off with Borussia Dortmund, he kept Hoffenheim in the game for long stretches. Although BVB ultimately won 5–3, the 18-year-old goalkeeper left a lasting impression with his quality saves.
After his first few appearances for Hoffenheim’s senior team under Head Coach Julian Nagelsmann — primarily in the domestic cup — Kobel was loaned to FC Augsburg in January 2019. There, he played in 16 of 17 Bundesliga matches in the second half of the season, gaining valuable experience at the highest level. That summer, he joined VfB Stuttgart. With his consistently strong performances, he played a decisive role in helping the newly promoted Bundesliga side pull clear of the relegation battle early in the 2020-21 season. Above all, his spectacular saves made him one of the league’s standout goalkeepers and ultimately attracted the interest of Borussia Dortmund.
Previous Clubs
Period | Club |
Since 07/2021 | Borussia Dortmund |
07/2019 – 06/2021 | VfB Stuttgart |
01/2019 – 06/2019 | FC Augsburg |
09/2014 – 12/2018 | TSG Hoffenheim |
2005 – 2014 | Grasshopper Club Zurich |
Gregor Kobel at BVB
In the summer of 2021, Gregor Kobel moved from VfB Stuttgart to Borussia Dortmund, and he has been BVB’s undisputed number one ever since. "I felt at home here very quickly and recognized that we are a really good match," the Swiss international backstop once said about his move to the Ruhr region.
In November 2023, Kobel extended his contract early, committing until 2028. He has attributed much of his special connection to the club to the unique feel surrounding the city of Dortmund, saying, "I'm an emotional guy. Dortmund as a football location is full of emotions, and so is Signal Iduna Park. It’s an incredible feeling getting to take the field at this stadium time and again. That’s an enormous privilege that continues to drive me."
Between the posts, Kobel quickly developed into one of Borussia's key performers. Standing 1.96 meters (or roughly 6'5") tall, the BVB netminder is not only a commanding presence in the box, but also impresses with his exceptional reflexes and his knack for coming up big in clutch moments. Again and again, he manages to keep out seemingly unstoppable shots, securing vital points for his side.
Last season in particular, Kobel provided evidence of his exceptional quality, as he tied a Borussia Dortmund club record by earning a total of 15 clean sheets. The Swiss netminder played a major role in his team fielding the best defense of the German topflight, with BVB giving up a league-low 34 goals.
BVB Stats*
Category | Total |
Appearances | 216 |
Goals conceded | 276 |
Clean sheets | 70 |
Yellow cards | 3 |
Ejections for second yellow | – |
Red cards | – |
* Through the 2025-26 season
Videos and Highlight Clips
Check out all Gregor Kobel videos and highlight clips on BVB-TV!
International Career
Ever since making his debut for the Swiss U-15 national team on March 20, 2012, Gregor Kobel has represented his country at every subsequent age level. On September 1, 2021, he made his debut for the Swiss senior national team.
Kobel was part of the Swiss squad that competed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and featured in the 3-2 victory over Serbia. He was also a member of the squad that competed at the 2024 Euros.
As one of the best Swiss goalkeepers of his generation, he continues to be a regular fixture with his national side and started throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Switzerland reached the quarterfinals. Kobel played in all six of his team’s matches during the tournament.
Gregor Kobel’s Career Honors
- 2014 Swiss U-18 champion with Grasshopper Club Zurich
Gregor Kobel in German Sign Language (DGS)
In collaboration with DEAF BVB Fanclub e. V., unique sign language names were developed for Borussia Dortmund’s players. The following clip demonstrates Gregor Kobel’s sign language name.