Kimmich spent the 2014/15 season in the second flight of German football with RB Leipzig, the team that subsequently shocked the Bundesliga in their breakthough season. They will play the Champions League this year, but Kimmich took a different route.
Bayern Munich swooped in to sign the versatile footballer, who can play at right-back and act as a holding midfielder, in a deal worth 8.5 million euros in 2015. That was the fee received by Stuttgart, who were in possession of the youngster's rights until he finally left the Baden-Wurtemberg outfit.
The player himself could not have fathomed such a change of fate two years ago. He doesn't only play for one of the top sides in Europe, but has already carried the captain's armband for the 'Mannschaft' despite being only 22 years of age.
In Germany's 'perfect' qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup, the Bayern Munich starlet has provided nine assists in 10 fixtures, starting every single one of them. Without a doubt, a star of the present with an equally big future.
Joshua Kimmich made 9 assists in the European #WCQ - more than any other player. #GERAZE pic.twitter.com/47n9dWm1cA
— Home Bayern (@HomeBayern___) 8 October 2017