Born in Kiel, Germany, Fabian Reese began his development in his hometown before joining the historic Schalke 04 academy at the age of 16. There, he refined his game and managed to earn a few appearances in the Bundesliga, while also representing Germany at U19 and U20 level. In search of more playing time and experience, he was loaned twice to the 2. Bundesliga — first to Karlsruher SC and then to SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Unable to fully establish himself at his boyhood club, he made a permanent move to the German second tier in 2020, signing for Holstein Kiel. After three strong seasons, he joined Hertha Berlin on a free transfer.
Standing at 1.89m, Reese does not fit the conventional physical profile of a winger. The tall forward possesses impressive acceleration — within just a few strides, he can reach a top speed that leaves many defenders behind. He is also agile, making excellent use of his flexible ankles in ball carrying, dribbling, crossing, and shooting situations. Thanks to his size, he is naturally more powerful than many wingers and full-backs, giving him an advantage in duels. Added to these natural attributes is significant endurance, making him a difficult player to contain over the course of a full match. Although right-footed, he is almost ambidextrous, frequently and effectively using his weaker foot.
Reese is the type of winger who prefers operating along the touchline rather than drifting inside, as this better suits his qualities and provides frequent one-on-one situations — an area in which he excels. His main strength lies in his ability to beat his man. Often starting from a standing position, shoulders squared to the defender, he simply knocks the ball past his opponent and explodes forward. Despite the predictability of this approach, his burst and power are often enough to eliminate his marker. In possession, he uses multiple surfaces of his foot, testing the flexibility of his ankle; one of his “signature” moves is the nutmeg with the outside of his right foot.
He is comfortable receiving the ball to feet, even when stationary, but also enjoys attacking depth to immediately gain an advantage over his opponent. These forward runs are often initiated through quick one-twos with a teammate positioned more centrally. At the end of his runs, the German delivers high-quality crosses, frequently finding the right zone and a teammate, alternating between right foot, left foot, deliveries toward the penalty spot, or cut-backs. More occasionally, he cuts inside to attempt shots from the edge of the box, though this aspect of his game can be more predictable for defenses. Reese can also struggle at times with his finishing, occasionally lacking composure and missing clear chances.
Out of possession, the Hertha captain never shirks responsibility. Whether pressing high or tracking back defensively, his attitude is exemplary. He has even played as a wing-back in a back-three system on multiple occasions, which has helped him develop certain defensive principles. His versatility extends beyond the left wing: he has also been deployed as a right winger, a central striker, and even as a second forward — an undeniable tactical asset.
Often captaining Hertha Berlin, Reese leads more through character and example than through words. Tireless, committed, and driven by the desire to perform well, he establishes himself as a key presence on the pitch. He also displays a selfless streak, enjoying creating and highlighting opportunities for his teammates.
Now 28 years old, Fabian Reese has spent the majority of his career in Germany’s second division — something of an anomaly considering both his qualities and his statistical output. Perfectly matching the current needs of Olympique Lyonnais, a move to compete with the young yet talented Afonso Moreira and finally test himself in European competition could represent one of the last major opportunities of his career — an opportunity that might be too good to turn down, even given his attachment to Berlin.
Due to data coverage, I wasn’t able to compare Fabian Reese to Malick Fofana. But here is a pizza chart of the german.