Bundesliga
Jonas Urbig was mooted as Manuel Neuer's potential successor at Bayern Munich after joining the record champions from Cologne. bundesliga.com takes a closer look at the Germany U21 international goakeeper, who came on to make his Bayern debut in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, first leg against Bayer Leverkusen.
Data correct as of 6 March 2025
Age: 21 (born 8 August 2003)
Club: Bayern Munich
Position: Goalkeeper
Country: Germany (eight U21 caps)
Key stats
On the books at Cologne since the age of nine, Urbig had already been capped by Germany's U17, U18, U19 and U20s by the time he made his professional debut in early 2023. His first taste of senior football came during a six-month loan with Jahn Regensburg in Bundesliga 2 and, after their relegation from Bundesliga 2, was followed by another temporary stint at Greuther Fürth.
Urbig underlined some impressive displays at Regensburg with a not insignificant 11 clean sheets across 33 Bundesliga 2 appearances for Fürth. Between October and December 2023, he even went over 600 minutes without conceding. The Germany U21 international then returned to Cologne, initially winning first-choice honours with 10 appearances to start 2024/25.
Despite falling down the pecking order in the latter part of the Hinrunde, he'd done enough to convince Bayern to put forward a long-term deal through to summer 2029, duly signed, sealed and delivered on 27 January 2025.
Urbig's big step into the Bayern limelight came somewhat unexpectedly. During the Bavarian's giants' all-Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League round of 16 first-leg victory against Bayer Leverkusen, Neuer pulled up with a muscle issue and signalled his intention to come off. Vincent Kompany duly called to his back-up custodian and Urbig took to the field in the 58th minute to make his Bayern and Champions League debuts. Aged 21 years and 209 days, he became the second-youngest goalkeeper to feature for Bayern in the Champions League after Stefan Wessels (20 years and 205 days old against Rangers in September 1999).
Plays a bit like: Noah Atubolu
Urbig's a confident shot-stopper, but he's also very adept with his feet and known for his impecabble distribution. The mix of sharp reflexes and his command of the ball have drawn comparisons with Freiburg counterpart Noah Atubolu, the new Bayern custodian's rival for the No.1 jersey with the Germany U21s.
Watch: The best of Jonas Urbig
Did you know?
Testament to Urbig's talents, Neuer was reportedly involved in Bayern's dealings to bring him to the Allianz Arena. It's also been reported by German media that the former Cologne youngster will stay at Bayern to learn from the world-renowned goalkeeper, rather than further his development with a loan move elsewhere.
What they're saying
"Amazing for him to come on in this type of game. He looked cool, calm and collected out there.
I just congratulated him for his debut at this big club. I think he did really well." - Harry Kane on Urbig's debut against Leverkusen
"He's one of the most promising young goalkeepers in German football, very ambitious and has massive potential. Jonas is a modern goalkeeper who, with the way he interprets the game, fits in well with Bayern's style of play." - Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund
"We know, in Jonas, we have someone who meets the highest standards with the ball at his feet. If you have a 100 percent pass rate, but everyone says that you missed three shots you should have saved, you have a problem - but he makes really good saves, too." - Former Fürth coach Alexander Zorniger