5 Borussia Dortmund youngsters to watch in 2026/27
From Jadon Sancho to Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund has built a reputation for developing elite young talent. The next generation is already knocking on the door – so who will break through in 2026/27?
Let's take a closer look...
Luca Reggiani
Age: 18 (born 9 January 2008)
Position: Centre-back
Country: Italy
Dortmund appearances: Nine
Reggiani's rise since joining Dortmund from Sassuolo as a 16-year-old has been rapid. The centre-back was thrust into the first team in February amid an injury crisis, making his debut against Wolfsburg before earning his first start just 10 days later in the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg against Atalanta.
He then scored his first senior goal in a 2-0 win over Augsburg, finishing the campaign with nine first-team appearances.
With Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can both sidelined through injury, and Niklas Süle having left the club, Reggiani looks well placed for more opportunities this season.
The 18-year-old also earned his first senior Italy cap in June, while his development in 2025/26 was further recognised with a nomination for the 2026 Golden Boy award.
Samuele Inácio
Age: 18 (born 2 April 2008)
Position: Attacking midfield
Country: Italy (one cap)
Dortmund appearances: Seven
Another Italian starlet within the Dortmund ranks, Inácio has enjoyed a similarly rapid rise since arriving from Atalanta in 2024. The winger impressed at youth level before making his first-team debut against Bayern Munich at just 17.
He continued to catch the eye and finished the season with four consecutive starts, scoring his first senior goal in a 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 18-year-old's development has strengthened Dortmund's attacking options and may even have played a part in the club's decision to allow Julian Brandt, Julien Duranville and Cole Campbell to leave this summer.
Inácio also earned his first senior Italy cap in a 1-0 win over Luxembourg and, like fellow cuntryman Reggiani, was nominated for the 2026 Golden Boy award.
Mathis Albert
Age: 17 (born 21 May 2009)
Position: Attacking midfield
Country: USA
Dortmund appearances: One
Campbell may have departed for Elversberg this summer, but Dortmund already have another American prospect knocking on the first-team door.
Albert announced himself last season by becoming the youngest American ever to play in the Bundesliga, making his debut against Freiburg on Matchday 31 last season aged just 16 years, 11 months and five days, eclipsing Gio Reyna's record.
The winger had earned his chance after an outstanding campaign for Dortmund's youth and reserve sides, registering 12 goals and 11 assists in 34 appearances.
His performances in training also caught the eye of head coach Niko Kovač, who said after Albert's debut: "He is a talented young lad. I like the way they [Albert and Reggiani] conduct themselves in training, and that's why they're being rewarded. I'm just the one who gives them the opportunity."
More of those are sure to come in 2026/27.
Kauã Prates
Age: 17
Position: Left-back
Country: Brazil
Dortmund appearances: 0
“In Kauã, we have signed an extremely exciting player,” said then-Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl when the transfer was announced in February this year.
“He is still very young and is one of the most talented players in South America. We are convinced that his skills, ambition and potential for development make him a very good fit for Borussia Dortmund.”
Prates may still be only 17, but the pathway to the first team is there. Signed from Cruzeiro, Prates arrives with a genuine opportunity to compete for minutes.
His ability to play as both a left-back and left-sided centre-back gives Kovač valuable flexibility in a squad that will once again be competing on multiple fronts.
Joane Gadou
Age: 19
Position: Centre-back
Country: France
Dortmund appearances: 0
Gadou arrives in Dortmund after an impressive spell with Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, where he established himself as one of Europe's most highly rated teenage defenders. The 19-year-old made 58 first-team appearances after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, earning a reputation for his composure in possession and athleticism.
Dortmund clearly expect him to make an immediate impact. CEO Lars Ricken said the club believe Gadou will “strengthen our squad and play an important role for us right from the start of the new season”, while also describing the Frenchman as a player with "enormous potential".
Much like Reggiani, the door is open for Gadou to establish himself quickly in light of the injuries to Schlotterbeck and Can, as well as Süle’s departure.
