Waldemar Anton

Waldemar Anton
Anton with Dortmund in 2025
Personal information
Full name Waldemar Anton[1]
Birth name Vladimir Anton
Date of birth (1996-07-20) 20 July 1996
Place of birth Olmaliq, Uzbekistan
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Borussia Dortmund
Number 3
Youth career
–2007 Mühlenberger SV
2007–2015 Hannover 96
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Hannover 96 II 11 (1)
2016–2020 Hannover 96 130 (6)
2020–2024 VfB Stuttgart 127 (3)
2024– Borussia Dortmund 55 (4)
International career‡
2016–2019 Germany U21 11 (0)
2024– Germany 12 (0)
Medal record
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Winner 2017
Runner-up 2019
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:28, 26 April 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 10:30, 15 November 2025 (UTC)

Waldemar Anton (German pronunciation: [ˈvaldemaːʁ ˈantɔn]; born 20 July 1996) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Germany national team.

Club career

Hannover 96

Anton played eleven matches for Hannover 96 II and scored one goal.[3] Since Hannover 96 were in relegation, Anton and Mike-Steven Bähre were signed to professional contracts to help the club.[4]

Anton with Hannover 96 in 2016

During the 2015–16 season, Anton made two appearances for Hannover 96,[5] playing in a 2–1 win against VfB Stuttgart on 27 February 2016[6] and a 1–0 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt on 19 March 2016.[7] His first Bundesliga goal was against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 15 April 2016.[8]

VfB Stuttgart

On 28 July 2020, Anton transferred to VfB Stuttgart on a four-year deal.[9] On 5 November 2021, he extended his contract until 2025.[10]

Anton with VfB Stuttgart in 2022

Anton became the team captain of VfB Stuttgart in August 2023 and extended his contract until 2027 on 14 January 2024.[11] On 4 May 2024, the final matchday of the Bundesliga season, Anton would help his side win 3–1 over Bayern Munich, thus finishing Bundesliga runner-up behind champions Bayer Leverkusen.[12]

Borussia Dortmund

On 8 July 2024, Anton joined fellow Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, signing a four-year contract,[13] for a reported transfer fee of €22.5m, as a replacement for Mats Hummels, who left the club in the same summer.[14][15] The transfer has caused major controversies among Stuttgart supporters, since Anton declared his loyalty towards the club four months earlier.[16]

"[...] I hadn't originally planned on changing clubs – but then Borussia Dortmund came along. A top club that just reached the Champions League final. That shows the potential this club has [...]."

— Waldemar Anton about joining Borussia Dortmund[17]

On 17 August 2024, Anton made his Dortmund debut in the first round of the DFB-Pokal against Phönix Lübeck, scoring three minutes into the match, and thus his first goal.[18] On 18 September, he'd celebrate his European debut coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 away victory over Club Brugge, on the first matchday of the Champions League league phase.[19] On 1 October, he'd feature in the starting line-up in the Champions League for the first time, in a 7–1 home win over Celtic Glasgow.[20] On 8 February 2025, Anton scored an own goal for his former club VfB Stuttgart in a 2–1 loss.[21] On 12 April, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for Dortmund away in Munich, to tie the game 2–2 and secure a point for his team.[22] Three days later, he'd play full 90 minutes in a 3–1 home victory over FC Barcelona, in the quarter-final of the Champions League, though his side was eliminated.[23] On 26 April, he'd score the winning goal for Dortmund in the sixth minute of extra time in a 3–2 away victory over Hoffenheim, climbing up to the sixth place of the league table, making a crucial step towards Champions League qualification for the following season.[24] On the last matchday, he would help his team win 3–0 against Kiel and qualify for the Champions League.[25]

In the first matchday of the following Bundesliga season, he'd score a goal in a 3–3 draw over St. Pauli.[26] On 5 November 2025, he'd score Dortmund's only goal in a 1–4 away loss to Manchester City, marking Dortmund's first defeat of the Champions League season.[27] On 4 April 2026, Dortmund would win 2–0 against VfB Stuttgart away, marking Anton's first victory with Dortmund over his ex-club after three winless matches in a row.[28]

International career

Anton was eligible to play for Germany, Russia and Uzbekistan. He was a youth international for Germany.[29] He won the UEFA Under-21 Championship in 2017 and was a runner-up in 2019.[30]

In March 2024, he was called up for the Germany national team ahead of the friendly matches against France and the Netherlands.[31] He made his debut on 23 March 2024 in a 2–0 away win over France.[32]

Anton was named in Germany's squad for UEFA Euro 2024, reaching the quarter-final.[33] After the Euros, he featured in Germany's 2024–25 UEFA Nations League campaign, reaching the finals and finishing fourth place.[34] Later, he successfully qualified with Germany for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring in four out of their six qualifying matches.[35]

Personal life

A Spätaussiedler, Anton was born in Olmaliq, Uzbekistan, to Russia-German parents and moved to Germany at the age of two.[36] His father is from Ekaterinburg, Russia, and his mother is Volga German.[37] When in Germany, his parents legally changed his birth name Vladimir to its German equivalent Waldemar due to assimilation reasons.[38] He is Christian.[39]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 April 2026[5]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League DFB-Pokal Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hannover 96 II 2015–16 Regionalliga Nord 11 1 — — — 11 1
Hannover 96 2015–16 Bundesliga 8 1 0 0 — — 8 1
2016–17 2. Bundesliga 31 2 2 0 — — 33 2
2017–18 Bundesliga 27 1 2 0 — — 29 1
2018–19 Bundesliga 34 1 2 0 — — 36 1
2019–20 2. Bundesliga 30 0 1 0 — — 31 0
Total 130 5 7 0 — — 137 5
VfB Stuttgart 2020–21 Bundesliga 31 0 3 0 — — 21 0
2021–22 Bundesliga 29 2 2 0 — — 31 2
2022–23 Bundesliga 34 1 4 0 — 2[a] 0 40 1
2023–24 Bundesliga 33 0 4 1 — — 37 1
Total 127 3 13 1 — 2 0 129 4
Borussia Dortmund 2024–25 Bundesliga 26 2 1 1 10[b] 0 5[c] 0 42 3
2025–26 Bundesliga 29 2 3 0 9[b] 1 — 41 3
Total 55 4 4 1 19 1 5 0 83 6
Career total 310 13 24 2 19 1 7 0 360 16
  1. ^ Appearances in Bundesliga relegation play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

International

As of match played 14 November 2025[40]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Germany 2024 7 0
2025 5 0
Total 12 0

Honours

Germany U21

VfB Stuttgart

Individual

  • Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2023–24[44]
  • VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2023–24[45]

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Squad List: FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Borussia Dortmund (GER)" (PDF). FIFA. 14 June 2025. p. 6. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Waldemar Anton". Kicker (in German). Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Waldemar Anton » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Bundesliga: Hannover verlängert mit Retter Frontzeck". FAZ.NET (in German). ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Waldemar Anton » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Schulz und Kiyotake beatmen Hannover" (in German). kicker. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Ben-Hatira entscheidet den Abstiegskrimi" (in German). kicker. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Anton und Sobiech brechen den Heimfluch" (in German). kicker. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  9. ^ "VfB macht Anton-Transfer perfekt – Jackson Martinez kein Thema". Kicker (in German). kicker. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Waldemar Anton verlängert bis 2025". VfB Stuttgart (in German). 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Anton extends contract through to 2027". VfB Stuttgart. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  12. ^ sportschau.de. "FC Bayern vergeigt Generalprobe: Stuttgart gewinnt mal wieder gegen München". sportschau.de (in German). Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  13. ^ "Waldemar Anton signs until 2028". Borussia Dortmund. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  14. ^ Fitzpatrick, Peter (8 July 2024). "Borussia Dortmund complete signing of Stuttgart defender". OneFootball.
  15. ^ "Hummels-Nachfolger da: BVB macht Verpflichtung von Waldemar Anton perfekt". www.wa.de (in German). 8 July 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
  16. ^ ""Vor allem meiner Familie wegen": BVB-Transfer Waldemar Anton hofft auf abnehmende Hassnachrichten aus Stuttgart | SPOX" (in German). Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  17. ^ Waldemar Anton unterschreibt bis 2028 "Waldemar Anton unterschreibt bis 2028". www.bvb.de. Retrieved 6 April 2026., bvb.de, 6 April 2026
  18. ^ "4:1 – BVB überspringt vor Rekordkulisse die Hürde Lübeck". www.bvb.de. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  19. ^ Kicker.de (18 September 2024). "Club Brügge gegen Dortmund 2024 Champions League". Kicker. Retrieved 6 April 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Borussia Dortmund feiert 7:1-Sternstunde gegen Celtic". www.bvb.de. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  21. ^ "VfB Stuttgart ruin Niko Kovač's Borussia Dortmund debut". www.bundesliga.com. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  22. ^ Kicker.de. "Bayern gegen Dortmund 2025 Bundesliga". Kicker. Retrieved 6 April 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "BVB schlägt Barcelona 3:1 – Raus mit dröhnendem Applaus!". www.bvb.de. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  24. ^ "3:2 – Anton schießt BVB in letzter Sekunde zum Sieg in Sinsheim". www.bvb.de. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  25. ^ Kicker.de. "Bundesliga Tabelle 34. Spieltag". Kicker. Retrieved 6 April 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "3:3 beim FC St. Pauli – BVB verspielt nach Manes Platzverweis 3:1-Führung". www.bvb.de. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  27. ^ "1:4 – Borussia kassiert in Manchester erste Champions-League-Niederlage der Saison". www.bvb.de. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  28. ^ Hochrainer, Sebastian. "Adeyemi und Brandt veredeln starke BVB-Defensive in Stuttgart". sportschau.de (in German). Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  29. ^ "Waldemar Anton Personenprofil". DFB Datencenter (in German). Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  30. ^ "Spain beat Germany to win U21 Euros". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  31. ^ "Start ins EM-Jahr mit sechs Neulingen und sechs Rückkehrern" (in German). German Football Association. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Germany 2-0 France (23 Mar, 2024) Final Score - ESPN (UK)". ESPN. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  33. ^ "UEFA Euro 2024: All squads and players full list". Olympics.com. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Julian Nagelsmann names Germany squad for UEFA Nations League finals". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  35. ^ UEFA.com. "European Qualifiers Germany squad". UEFA.com. Retrieved 6 April 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ ""Ich brauche keine Ausstiegsklausel"" [“I do not need a walkaway clause”]. Bild (in German). 17 January 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2024. Ich bin mit meinen Eltern nach Deutschland gekommen, als ich zwei war. Da hieß ich wirklich noch Wladimir. Im deutschen Pass stand dann aber gleich Waldemar. [I came to Germany with my parents when I was two. My real name then was still Vladimir. But my German passport then said Waldemar.]
  37. ^ Раимов, Евдоким (31 May 2016). ""Wer ist Anton Waldemar"? Потенциальная звезда Узбекистана из Германии" [“Who is Waldemar Anton?” Uzbekistan's potential star from Germany]. Sports.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  38. ^ Redaktion, MOPO; Simon, imago/Sven; imago1046600039h-scaled (22 June 2024). "„Mein Geburtsname ist Wladimir": Dieser DFB-Star ersetzt Hummels beim BVB". MOPO (in German). Retrieved 6 April 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Kosian, Markus (10 July 2024). "Waldemar Anton: "Der Glaube hilft mir in Momenten, in denen ich Sorgen oder Probleme habe"". PromisGlauben (in German). Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  40. ^ "Waldemar Anton international matches". EU-Football.info. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  41. ^ "Weisers Kopfball macht den EM-Traum wahr". Kicker (in German). 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  42. ^ "Spain 2-1 Germany (Jun 30, 2019) Lineups". ESPN. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  43. ^ "Der VfB ist Vizemeister". VfB Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  44. ^ "Bundesliga Team of the Season 2023/24 by EA FC 24!". Bundesliga. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  45. ^ "Florian Wirtz ist VDV-Spieler der Saison" (in German). VDV. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
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