Arijon Ibrahimovic, Mathys Tel, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and the top 5 Bundesliga youngsters to watch in 2023
From Mathys Tel to Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Arijon Ibrahimovic, the Bundesliga is littered with top young talent. bundesliga.com picks out five to keep an eye on in 2023...
Schalke's talent factory is one of Germany's richest when it comes to mining footballing gold. After all, this is the place that has unearthed the likes of Manuel Neuer, Mesut Özil and Leroy Sane, whose younger brother is now emerging as the most exciting prospect at the club since his sibling burst onto the scene just over eight years ago. Now Bayern Munich man Leroy has gone on to become one of the most sought-after players on the planet, and an influential figure for both club and country. Sidi, meanwhile, is stepping out of the shadows of his illustrious brother. The 19-year-old winger now regularly trains with the first team, and made his Bundesliga debut against Bayern on Matchday 15 of the current campaign. He entered the field just six minutes after Leroy had left it, and you can guarantee that these two brothers' paths will continue to cross more regularly.
4) Arijon Ibrahimovic (Bayern Munich)
“We've got a very good impression of him.” So spoke Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann when asked about the immensely gifted midfielder Ibrahimovic, who continues his rapid rise through the ranks. The 17-year-old Nuremberg native is yet to make his competitive senior Bayern bow but with his eye-opening feats as a tireless box-to-box player who likes to take on opponents and offer support in attack, he has been included in both the first team's summer and winter training camps. He scored in the friendly against Red Bull Salzburg as his place in the limelight edges ever closer.
No relation to the world-renowned Swedish striker who bears the same surname, Germany youth international Ibrahimovic has been posting impressive numbers in double-quick time in Bayern’s youth ranks, scoring 10 times in nine games for the U19s just this season, for example. The former Greuther Fürth and Nuremberg youth teamer has also received senior squad call-ups for Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League games with Bayern. “Ari’s a very good attacking player whose quality lies in taking on defenders in one-on-one situations. He can dribble really well," Nagelsmann added in his enthusiasm for Ibrahimovic.
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3) Muhammed Damar (Hoffenheim)
Winning six caps for the Germany U18s and 19s in 2022, Damar is reaping the rewards of a summer move to Hoffenheim, where he's made four Bundesliga appearances - enjoying a full debut against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 14 - and a further nine in the fourth tier for the reserves. "He made it clear he wanted to come here, and has been working really hard in training," Hoffenheim head coach Andre Breitenreiter said of the 18-year-old midfielder after inviting him to train with the senior side. "He's really focused and we're going to have a great future with him." To date, the former Hertha Berlin and Frankfurt youngster, who favours No.8 or 10 roles, has had a direct hand in five goals (one of his own, plus four assists) for Hoffenheim's second string.
2) Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
Touted as the long-term successor to Jadon Sancho, Bynoe-Gittens moved to Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City in 2020. The England youth international made his Bundesliga debut at the end of 2021/22, before going on to help his country win the UEFA U19 Euros. A maiden Bundesliga goal arrived on Matchday 2 of the new campaign against Freiburg, only for a dislocated shoulder to put his accelerated progress at senior level on ice. He hasn't played since September, but the fact he started two of BVB's first five league games of the season suggests the fleet-footed teen will have a big role to play once his body allows. After all, there's no player in the current BVB squad to whom flying down the wings with such gusto comes so naturally.
Watch: Bynoe-Gittens inspired a dramatic turnaround for BVB against Freiburg
1) Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)
Scoring goals is Tel's bread and butter. The 17-year-old striker has become Bayern's youngest marksman in next to no time, opening his account on his debut for his new club in the DFB Cup first round and on only his third Bundesliga outing. He struck again on Matchday 13 against Werder Bremen, whilst scoring five times across three U19 Euro qualifiers with France in November.
Watch: Mathys Tel scored his first Bayern goal in 2-2 draw with Stuttgart
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting remains Julian Nagelsmann's first pick in the No.9 role once occupied by Robert Lewandowski, but the Bayern head coach has already used young Tel 12 times in all competitions and sung his praises after his performance in the Salzburg friendly. Such is his physical and goal-scoring prowess, the ex-Rennes front man hasn't been anywhere near the reserve or youth teams. And he doesn't turn 18 until 27 April 2023...
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