Paris Brunner

Paris Josua Brunner (born 15 February 2006) is a German footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. He is considered one of the brightest young talents in German Football.

Club career

Brunner played for the academies of Rot-Weiss Essen and VfL Bochum, before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020.

He rose to prominence in the footballing world after scoring sixteen goals in only five Under 17 Bundesliga appearances. He was promoted to the under-19 side at the age of sixteen, scoring on his debut against Bonner SC in the Under 19 Bundesliga. These goal-scoring feats earned him comparisons to teammate Youssoufa Moukoko, who was similarly prolific at youth level.

On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide. A week later, Borussia Dortmund indefinitely suspended Brunner for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.

International career

Brunner has represented Germany at youth international level. He is also eligible to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Youth

During the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, he scored the equalizer for 10-man Germany team against Switzerland in the quarter-final match which ended in a 3–2 win on penalties, securing a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. He later managed to win the competition with his country after beating France in the final 4–3 on penalties. He was also voted player of the tournament, in addition to being the joint top scorer with four goals.

Honours

Germany U17

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2023
• FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2023

Individual

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship Top Scorer: 2023

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship Player of the Tournament: 2023

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2023

• FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball: 2023