Paul Nebel

Paul Nebel
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-10-10) 10 October 2002
Place of birth Bad Nauheim, Germany
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
Mainz 05
Number 8
Youth career
–2012 SC Germania Nieder-Mockstadt
2012–2013 KSV Klein-Karben
2014–2016 Kickers Offenbach
2016–2020 Mainz 05
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Mainz 05 II 34 (7)
2020– Mainz 05 67 (12)
2022–2024Karlsruher SC (loan) 65 (9)
International career
2017 Germany U15 1 (0)
2017–2018 Germany U16 10 (0)
2018–2019 Germany U17 10 (3)
2020 Germany U19 1 (0)
2021–2023 Germany U20 14 (3)
2023–2025 Germany U21 14 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Germany
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 2025 Slovakia
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 March 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 10:15, 29 June 2025 (UTC)

Paul Nebel (born 10 October 2002) is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Bundesliga club Mainz 05.[1]

Club career

Nebel made his debut for Mainz 05 in the first round of the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal on 11 September 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute for Levin Öztunalı against fourth-division side TSV Havelse. He assisted Jean-Philippe Mateta's 90th minute goal to complete a hat-trick, with the match finishing as a 5–1 win.[2] He made his Bundesliga debut the following week on 20 September, coming on as a substitute for Mateta in the 90+1st minute of Mainz's away match against RB Leipzig, which finished as a 3–1 loss.[3]

After a successful two-year-long loan spell at Karlsurher SC in the German second division, Nebel became a key-player for Mainz, registering ten goals and six assists in the 2024–25 season, surpassing the likes of Jamal Musiala in terms of goal contributions. He finished sixth with Mainz, qualifying for the UEFA Conference League play-offs.[4]

International career

Nebel is a youth international for Germany.[5] Nebel is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland under FIFA's grandparent rule through his maternal grandmother.[6]

He made his debut for the Germany national under-21 team in 2023. With Germany, Nebel would take part at the 2025 UEFA European under-21 Championship, finishing runner-up and assisting an equaliser, as well as scoring a long range equaliser, in the final against England, in a 2–3 loss.[7]

Two months later, in August 2025, Nebel earned his first call-up to the German senior national team, with coach Julian Nagelsmann selecting him for the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, though he remained unused.[8]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 March 2026[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League DFB-Pokal Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mainz 05 II 2020–21 Regionalliga Südwest 21 4 21 4
2021–22 Regionalliga Südwest 13 3 13 3
Total 34 7 34 7
Mainz 05 2020–21 Bundesliga 4 0 1 0 5 0
2021–22 Bundesliga 10 0 1 0 11 0
2024–25 Bundesliga 31 10 2 0 33 10
2025–26 Bundesliga 22 2 2 0 9[a] 0 33 2
Total 67 12 6 0 9 0 82 12
Karlsruher SC (loan) 2022–23 2. Bundesliga 32 4 2 0 34 4
2023–24 2. Bundesliga 33 5 1 0 34 5
Total 65 9 3 0 68 9
Career total 166 28 9 0 9 0 184 28
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Germany U21

References

  1. ^ Paul Nebel at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Germany » DFB-Pokal 2020/2021 » 1. Round » TSV Havelse – 1. FSV Mainz 05 1:5". WorldFootball.net. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Germany » Bundesliga 2020/2021 » 1. Round » RB Leipzig – 1. FSV Mainz 05 3:1". WorldFootball.net. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Paul Nebel | Statistiken | Bundesliga 2025/26". kicker (in German). Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  5. ^ Dempsey, Andrew (10 May 2022). "Bundesliga starlet still on Ireland U21 radar despite Germany call-up". Pundit Arena.
  6. ^ "Irish eligible Paul Nebel speaks on commitment to Germany: "I love my home and national anthem."". Get Football News Germany. 21 March 2025.
  7. ^ "England 3-2 Germany (Jun 28, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Julian Nagelsmann selects three fresh faces for September's FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers". Bundesliga. 27 August 2025.
  9. ^ Paul Nebel at Soccerway
  10. ^ "England 3-2 Germany (aet) highlights: Rowe header ensures Young Lions retain title". uefa.com. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.