Bundesliga

5 Bayern youngsters to watch in 2025/26

Who will be the next breakout stars at record champions Bayern Munich?
Who will be the next breakout stars at record champions Bayern Munich?

Franz Beckenbauer, Thomas Müller, Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala are just a handful of the hot prospects turned stars at Bayern Munich down the years. bundesliga.com checks out some of the latest first-team candidates hoping to follow in those acclaimed footsteps...

Wisdom Mike
Age: 16 (born 24 September 2008)
Position: Winger
Country: Germany, Nigeria

Wisdom Mike has been the name on the lips of all Bayern fans ever since he was named in his first matchday squad back in February for the game against Werder Bremen. Although he didn’t feature, his place amongst the stars of the first team was well-warranted, given Mike’s outstanding performances at youth level this season. In 20 games across all competitions for Bayern's U17 and U19 teams, the 16-year-old has 18 goals and seven assists to his name.

Wisdom Mike was named on the bench for Bayern Munich's February clash with Werder Bremen.
Wisdom Mike was named on the bench for Bayern Munich's February clash with Werder Bremen.

Speaking in the aftermath of the Bremen game, head coach Vincent Kompany spoke very highly of the youngster. “He’s obviously still very young, so we don’t want to talk him up too much,” said the Belgian. “He has that ability, one-against-one, speed. He’s a player from our youth ranks and earned this first chance. But he’s still got a long way to go. We’ll keep supporting him.”

Unfortunately for Mike, his inclusion in the first team was curtailed the following week by an injury that he is only just recovering from. There is hope amongst the Bayern fans that he could yet still feature at the tail-end of 2024/25, or, at the very latest, during the FIFA Club World Cup in the summer.

Jonah Kusi-Asare
Age: 17 (born 4 July 2007)
Position: Forward
Country: Sweden, Ghana

Jonah Kusi-Asare is the latest Bayern academy graduate to make his debut for the Bavarian giants, having come off the bench in the 88th minute in the 3-0 win against Mainz on Matchday 31.

The Swedish youngster joined Bayern in February 2024 from AIK in Sweden, the club where he made his professional debut just one month and 24 days after turning 16. He's since made a number of Regionalliga appearances for the reserves and has also become a regular for the club’s UEFA Youth League side.

Jonah Kusi-Asare replaced Harry Kane in the Bayern attack against Mainz.

Given his nationality and his tall, slim build, it is little surprise that the youngster is already being compared to fellow countryman Aleksander Isak. On his Sweden U17s debut, Kusi-Asare scored a hat-trick against Moldova.

Expect to see the youngster continue to make matchday squads next season, especially if Bayern don’t sign a back-up striker for Harry Kane.

Adam Aznou

Age: 18 (born 2 June 2006)
Position: Left-back/left-winger
Country: Morocco, Spain

Adam Aznou is another player to have already made the step up to Bayern’s first team, having appeared twice this season already before moving on loan to Real Valladolid in February. Since moving back to Spain, the former Barcelona academy man has been racking up top-flight minutes that can only aid his development.

Adam Aznou made his Bayern debut in December 2024.

With Alphonso Davies suffering a serious injury whilst on international duty in March, Aznou will be optimistic about receiving increased minutes for Bayern next season. Speaking after Aznou’s debut in December, Kompany seemed confident of Aznou’s ability to have an impact on the first team.

"Adam has done very well. In training, but also with the national team. And now, of course, it feels like we have an extra player to count on. He's young, he can be proud, his parents can be proud."

Maurice Krattenmacher

Age: 19 (born 11 August 2005)
Position: Attacking midfielder
Country: Germany

This summer marks the end of an era for Bayern and Müller, but that could yet prove an opportunity for many of the club’s budding young talents. One of those, is Maurice Krattenmacher. The 19-year-old plays as an attacking midfielder and this season has been showcasing his talents whilst out on loan at second division side Ulm.

Maurice Krattenmacher scored a vital goal against Greuther Fürth to help give Ulm a chance of beating the drop.

Krattenmacher - signed from nearby Unterhaching in summer 2024 - has been a mainstay in the Ulm first team, playing all but one of the club’s league games. In that time, he has scored three goals and registered four assists.

Lennart Karl

Age: 17 (born 22 February 2008)
Position: Forward
Country: Germany

Although Lennart Karl is yet to make his first-team debut, it feels only a matter of time given his phenomenal appearances for Bayern’s youth teams this season. So far this season, the 17-year-old has an incredible 42 goal contributions to his name in just 27 appearances.

Lennart Karl has been on the Bayern bench several times this season, including in the UCL.

Karl has already been part of several Bayern senior squads this season, including for both UEFA Champions League quarter-final games against Inter Milan and his game has drawn comparisons with Arjen Robben.

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