Stefan Ortega, born on 6 November 1992 in Germany, is currently plying his trade for Manchester City as a goalkeeper. He is a sturdy figure between the sticks, standing at 6ft 1in (1.86m) and weighing in at 14st (89kg). He represents Manchester City wearing the number 18 jersey and has also made appearances for the Germany national team.
Ortega's career kicked off in July 2007 when he joined Arminia Bielefeld in Germany's second-tiered 2. Bundesliga as a trainee. He made steady progress over the years, racking up between 1 and 34 first team appearances per season from 2011 to 2022.
In July 2014, Ortega experienced his first transfer when he moved from Arminia Bielefeld to another German team, 1860 Munich, then competing in the lower 3. Liga. Here, he continued his development, making between 15 and 21 appearances per season from 2014 to 2017.
Ortega later returned back to Arminia Bielefeld in July 2017. He continued to be a consistent figure in goal during his second spell at the club, making between 20 and 34 appearances per season for the period 2011 - 2022, with a standout record of 33 appearances in the 2021 - 2022 season alone.
A big career move came in July 2022, when Ortega transferred to English Premier League giants, Manchester City. His opportunities have been significantly limited though, playing between 3 and 13 league games per season between 2022 and 2025. In the current 2025 - 2026 season, he has yet to make his mark.
Despite his limited league appearances, Ortega has managed to step up on the global stage. He notably represented Manchester City in the Champions League in the 2023 - 2024 season and at the Club World Cup in 2025, making several starts in each competition.
