Bayern Munich's top five youngsters to watch in 2023/24
As Arijon Ibrahimović begins life as a member of Bayern Munich's first-team squad, attention turns to the next crop of youngsters who are looking to follow in his footsteps. bundesliga.com takes a look at five Bayern hopefuls looking to make the step up...
Data correct as of 16 July 2024
Adam Aznou
Age: 18 (born 2 June 2006)
Position: Left-back
Country: Morocco (Four youth caps)
Barcelona's famed La Masia has reared numerous world-class talents, and Bayern will be hoping Aznou joins that group in the future. The left-back swapped the Camp Nou for the Allianz Arena in 2016 and has since impressed at U19 level, helping the Bavarians to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League in 2023/24 before moving up to the reserves in the Regionalliga. He settled in well, making 11 appearances before the end of the season, and is now set to be a regular for the second side in the 2024/25 campaign. It remains to be seen whether he will be in Vincent Kompany's plans over the next 12 months, but young players have often caught the eye in pre-season, and he undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him, also recently signing his first professional contract with the club.
Robert Deziel Junior
Age: 19 (born 30 June 2005)
Position: Defensive midfield
Country: USA (Three youth caps, one goal)
Deziel Junior has plenty of pedigree, having previously been on the books of Real Madrid before moving to Munich, via Celta Vigo. A midfielder who can also play as a centre-back, the 19-year-old has been a regular feature for Bayern's U17s and U19s but, in 2023/24, he had his first taste of first-team football with Berlin-based outfit Altglienicke on loan. He played six times for his loan club, netting his first career goal in a 2-1 Regionalliga win over Chemnitz. A year with Bayern II should put him in good stead to potentially move another rung up the ladder.
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Jonathan Asp Jensen
Age: 18 (born 14 January 2006)
Position: Attacking midfield
Country: Denmark (19 youth caps)
This creative maestro already has a Bundesliga appearance under his belt, coming on as a late substitute against Wolfsburg on Matchday 33 of the 2023/24 campaign. That was just reward for a player who has shone both at youth and Regionalliga level. Joining from Danish big boys Midtjylland in 2022, three goals and five assists in 13 appearances for Bayern U17 saw him swiftly join up with the U19s and, after another six assists in 12 outings, he boosted the ranks of the reserves in February. He was rarely out of the team until the end of campaign, picking up some much-needed physicality to go along with his obvious technical ability. While continuing to develop, there is no doubting his talent in possession, and his inclusion in a Bundesliga matchday squad will not go unnoticed by Kompany.
Noël Aséko Nkili
Age: 18 (born 22 November 2005)
Position: Defensive midfield
Country: Germany (16 youth caps)
Like Aznou, Aséko put pen to paper on a maiden professional deal in May 2024 as Bayern invested in his future until 2027. That came off the back of two seasons that, while hampered by injury, allowed the midfielder to show off his talent. After joining from Hertha Berlin in 2022, he immediately joined up with Bayern's U19 and, by March 2023, he was a regular for the reserves. While a first outing for the first team so far remains elusive, he has regularly been included in matchday squads. The five-time U18 Germany international suffered with ankle ligament and meniscus problems throughout 2023/24, but he seems to have now overcome them and will look to get back on track this coming term. An all-round midfielder with the potential to perform higher up the pitch, Aleksandar Pavlović has shown the path to the first team's middle of the park is open for quality youngsters.
Nestory Irankunda
Age: 18 (born 9 February 2006)
Position: Right winger
Country: Australia (2 senior caps, one goal)
Despite being just 18 years of age, Irankunda has plenty of professional experience. He made his Australia A-League debut in 2022 at the age of 15 years and 333 days, making him the sixth-youngest player to ever take the field in the league. He quickly became an important performer for Adelaide United and has since become the second-youngest player to score in the A-League, as well as the second-youngest Australian man to grab a hat-trick at any level. Unsurprisingly, a host of top European clubs were interested in capturing his services, but Bayern prevailed, and he will now join up with the reserve team. Irankunda is Australia's biggest hope for the future - he already has two Socceroo caps, as well as one goal - so there will be plenty of scrutiny from Down Under as he makes his first steps in Germany.
Read about our five Bundesliga youngsters to watch in 2024/25
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