Eric Martel

Top-tier performer

1. FC Köln · 24 yrsTransferred to FSV Mainz 05

8.1%

Profile

Full nameEric Martel

PositionDefensive midfielder

NationalityGermany

Age24

Date of birth29 Apr 2002

BirthplaceStraubing

Height188 cm

Shirt number#6

Club1. FC Köln

More about E. Martel →

Defensive midfielderalso played DEF

Season stats

Full career & schedule →

Appearances

Goals

Assists

2564

Minutes

Domestic-league season · 1. FC Köln.

Performance data · by competition

Competition	Apps	G	A	Min	Match
Bundesliga	31	2	2	2564	6.83
UEFA U21 Championship - Qualificationat Germany U21	9	2	0	678	—
UEFA U21 Championshipat Germany U21	5	0	0	394	7.13
DFB Pokal	2	1	0	191	6.85

Career

Full career & schedule →

2. Bundesliga×2

Martel's current-season form is level with last season (Season 48→46), while his Rating climbed 69→75. His peak season for form remains 2024/25 (Season 48).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	1. FC Köln · 14th	31	2	2	6.83	75	46
2024/25	1. FC Köln · 1st	31	3	0	7.27	69	48
2023/24	1. FC Köln · 17th	30	1	1	6.97	77	43
2022/23	1. FC Köln · 11th	33	1	1	6.76	78	37
2021/22	Austria Vienna	30	2	2	7.12	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 1 earlier season and 2 youth-team spells in the full career.

Germany · international

Side	Apps	G
Germany U21	20	2

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Top-tier performerDefensive midfielder

E. Martel is a 24-year-old defensive midfielder at 1. FC Köln, rated 75 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 74th of 320 on scout potential in the Bundesliga. An emerging talent, he has been an ever-present this season (83.8% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.62 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Martel.

Judged on this season alone, Martel graded 46 — a strong campaign that ranks top 16% of the 19 defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga, on 2 goals, 2 assists and 3.615 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 48 → 46). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2024/25.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 75, top 32% of the 19 defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga. At 24 Martel is in his prime years, and a market index of 45.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Martel is operating at his career peak — the 2024/25 level is the level.

Peak: 2024/25Holding levelRemarkably consistentStepped up 2025/26

Current potentialTop 32% defensive midfielders · Bundesliga Current seasonTop 16% defensive midfielders · Bundesliga3rd-best defensive midfielder in the Bundesliga74th in the Bundesliga · potential6th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the Bundesliga

Ratingi

6th of 19 defensive midfielders

45.8

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

83.8%

Minutes

near ever-present

3.62

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · 1. FC Köln finished 14th of 18 · a lower-table side

3.62

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.62 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 3 clean sheets across 31 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (14th of 18) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 83.8% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Defensive volume. 3.62 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

With a Rating of 75, Martel carries the 6th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga (top 32%), and he is posting that for a lower-table side (1. FC Köln finished 14th of 18) — individual numbers are harder to earn on a struggling team, so his underlying level likely sits a touch above the ranking. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.62 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead. Doing it for a lesser side, he profiles as a value buy for a club higher up the table.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %83.8%

Available fixtures34 of 34

Goals / 900.07

Assists / 900.07

Goal contribution / 900.14

Defensive actions / 903.615

Player flow

Goal involvements4

Shot conversion %50

Shot accuracy %33.3

Pass accuracy %86

Dribble success %50

Cards / 900.386

Foul involvement / 903.264

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~46), then tapers with age. At 24, Martel sits on 45.6, at or near its peak. The blue line is Martel's projected Rating — 75 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Shots on target4

Shots12

Passing

Assists2

Chances created14

Passes1,417

Pass accuracy86%

Possession

Successful dribbles2

Dribble success50%

Duels won186

Duels won %53.9%

Fouls won51

Defending

Tackles46

Interceptions35

Blocks22

Fouls committed42

Penalties conceded1

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards11

Red cards0

Transfer history

€1.2M total transfer fees · 3 moves

FSV Mainz 052026/27 – nowFree

1. FC Köln2022/23 – 2026/27€ 1.2M

Austria Vienna(on loan)2020/21 – 2022/23

RB Leipziguntil 2020/21

About E. Martel

Eric Martel is a 24-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for 1. FC Köln, born on April 29, 2002 in Straubing, standing 188 cm tall. He is from Germany. 1. FC Köln currently sit 14th of 18 in the Bundesliga.

This season

In the current season, E. Martel has made 31 appearances with 2 goals and 2 assists across 2,564 minutes, averaging a 6.96 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 11 yellow cards. His season has spanned the Bundesliga, the UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification, the UEFA U21 Championship and the DFB Pokal. Though primarily a defensive midfielder, he has also lined up in defence this season.

When E. Martel plays, 1. FC Köln's record this season is 8W-10D-15L — and his match ratings average 6.81 at home against 6.85 on the road.

Recent matches

May 16, 2026: 1-5 loss away at Bayern München (90 minutes, 7.3 rating)
May 2, 2026: 2-2 draw away at Union Berlin (90 minutes, 6.3 rating)
April 25, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs Bayer Leverkusen (85 minutes, 6.6 rating)
April 17, 2026: 1-1 draw away at FC St. Pauli (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
April 12, 2026: 3-1 win at home vs Werder Bremen (90 minutes, 7 rating)
March 21, 2026: 3-3 draw at home vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (86 minutes, 1 goal, 7.3 rating)
March 14, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Hamburger SV (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
March 7, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs Borussia Dortmund (90 minutes, 6.7 rating)
February 27, 2026: 0-2 loss away at FC Augsburg (45 minutes, 7 rating)
February 21, 2026: 2-2 draw at home vs 1899 Hoffenheim (90 minutes, 7.3 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates E. Martel at 75 with a Season form score of 45.8, ranking 74th of 320 defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Availability: E. Martel has missed 2 matches this season (1 through injury, 1 through suspension).

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the 2. Bundesliga. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 7 recorded seasons, E. Martel has totalled 199 club appearances with 13 goals and 8 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 33 appearances for 1. FC Köln.

E. Martel's career has also included time at FSV Mainz 05, Austria Vienna and RB Leipzig.

On the international stage, E. Martel has represented Germany U21 — 20 caps and 2 goals in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · 1. FC Köln finished 14th of 18 · a lower-table side

Strengths

Watch points