Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Named 2015-16 Bundesliga Players' Player of the Year

Bundesliga players have voted Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as their Player of the Year for the 2015-16 season.

The division’s official Twitter feed confirmed the result of the ballot on Thursday:

Under the guidance of BVB boss Thomas Tuchel, the Gabon international enjoyed an extraordinary campaign. He lit up the German top flight with a number of scintillating performances, bagging an impressive 25 goals in the process.

Per the division’s official website, Aubameyang was a narrow winner, beating Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski to the award by just 0.2 per cent. Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan came third in the polling.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

In more success for BVB, young midfielder Julian Weigl picked up the Silver Arrow—the award handed to the division’s best newcomer. The 20-year-old beat Schalke 04 winger Leroy Sane and Borussia Monchengladbach starlet Mahmoud Dahoud, who finished in second and third place respectively.

The team of the season was as follows:

BR UK

Although Dortmund finished behind Bayern in the race for the Bundesliga title, it was a memorable term for Tuchel’s men, who played some thrilling football. And it was Aubameyang who set the tone with his vibrant play at the point of the attack.

Here is a look at some of his best moments from the campaign:

There was a sense at the end of the 2014-15 campaign that Aubameyang was on the cusp of realising his potential. Former manager Jurgen Klopp moved him into a central berth in 2014-15 from the wide role he had been occupying, and he thrived. Tuchel continued to play the 26-year-old through the middle, and the results were spectacular.

With men such as Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa and Mkhitaryan in support, the Gabon man has thrived playing on the shoulders of defenders. If a pass is played in behind, he has the pace to get to the ball. While his finishing was previously erratic, Aubameyang now looks at ease in front of goal.

As these numbers from WhoScored.com illustrate, the Dortmund star discovered some predatory instincts over the past 12 months:

There have been suggestions his tremendous campaign could be his last at Westfalenstadion. As reported by Marc Williams of the Daily Star, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Barcelona are all interested in signing the forward.

SASCHA SCHURMANN/Getty Images

Dortmund will be keen to keep hold of their star forward, and club chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke told Sport Bild that speculation the player could be on the move was “bulls--t" (h/t Stefan Coerts of Goal).

Dortmund have already lost Mats Hummels to Bayern Munich this summer, and Ilkay Gundogan completed a move to Manchester City on Thursday, per the Sky Blues' official website.

Awards such as this will only attract further attention, and it demonstrates just how impressive Aubameyang has been as of late. Dortmund will be desperate to see him kick on again at the club in 2016-17.