Sometimes it’s the little things that reveal the most about a person. A tattoo, inconspicuous to outsiders, but full of meaning for the wearer. The Peter Pan motif on Felix Götze’s skin is just such a symbol. It represents a shared understanding between brothers, memories that stretch back to childhood. „With Peter’s motto ‚Never grow up,‘ we felt a strong connection back then – and we still do today,“ the SC Paderborn centre-back told the club’s media. It’s an unspoken principle between the brothers. This curiosity, lightness, and joy – despite growing expectations – accompany Felix Götze to this day. They help him keep a clear head in moments of pressure and remind him why he chose this path in the first place. For him, football has never been just about performance or career, but always also about a game: a place where passion and freedom come together.
Born on February 11, 1998, in Dortmund, Felix Götze grew up surrounded by football. From an early age, he was drawn to the pitch. He took his first steps in organised football at Hombrucher SV, where his talent and understanding of the game quickly became apparent. It wasn’t long before bigger clubs took notice – and so he eventually joined the youth academy of Borussia Dortmund. There, he learned early on what it means to succeed in performance-oriented youth football: daily training, fierce competition, and discipline.
In 2014, another door opened. Felix transferred to FC Bayern Munich. In the youth academy of the record champions, he developed both athletically and mentally. The years in Munich were characterised by intensive training, high expectations, and the experience of having to prove himself anew every day. Playing time with FC Bayern’s reserve team in the Regionalliga (fourth division) provided him with valuable match experience – and gave him a sense of what it means to take responsibility on the pitch.
The step into professional football came in 2018 with his move to FC Augsburg. For the first time, he breathed Bundesliga air, for the first time he stood on the big stage. It was a period full of learning: new speed, new intensity, new roles. To play regularly and further develop, Felix Götze then consciously chose the path of a loan to 1. FC Kaiserslautern. At the Betzenberg stadium, he experienced football in its most emotional form – loud, passionate, demanding. Another important step followed at Rot-Weiss Essen. Initially on loan, later signed permanently, Götze found consistency and trust there. He became a regular starter, took on responsibility, and increasingly grew into a leadership role. His performances showed that he could not only play but also actively contribute to a team.
Felix Götze has been under contract with SC Paderborn 07 since the summer of 2024. He quickly established himself as a key player in the 2. Bundesliga – not only through his presence in defence, but also through his personality. The captaincy bestowed upon him is an expression of trust and recognition. It demonstrates that the talented young player has long since become a leader.
