Adrian Fein: Who is the Bayern Munich midfielder impressing on loan at Hamburg?
Bayern Munich have continued to look to the future by extending the contract of Germany U21 midfielder Adrian Fein. Now on loan at promoted Greuther Fürth in the Bundesliga for 2021/22, the 22-year-old is the latest in a long line of promising youngsters that the record German champions are investing in.
Having watched Chris Richards impress on loan with Hoffenheim last season, Bayern are hoping that fellow youth academy graduates will take their chance to shine in the top-flight. bundesliga.com gives you the background on yet another talent that Bayern are banking on...
Adrian Fein
Age: 22
Club: Greuther Fürth (on loan from Bayern Munich)
Position: Central midfielder
Country: Germany (5 caps, 1 goal for U21 side)
Key stats
Fein made his Bundesliga 2 debut in September 2018, coming on as a late substitute in Jahn Regensburg's 5-0 win in Hamburg. Sent to a fellow Bavarian club to gain first-team experience, the Munich native certainly got what he was looking for in the 2018/19 season. He made 21 league appearances for Regensburg, starting 12 matches as they finished seventh in Bundesliga 2. Injury problems restricted him from featuring too much in the second half of the campaign, but in 2019/20 - this time based well over 700 kilometres from his home city - he continued to make good progress.
Fein had one goal and two assists in 18 league matches before the winter break, starting 17 of them to leave Hamburg sitting in second place. A Germany international since U18 level, the tall and strong midfielder made his U21 debut in September 2019. Such development has not gone unnoticed by Bayern. Having signed a first professional contract with the Bavarians in July 2018, Fein was rewarded with an extended deal – lasting until 2023 – in December 2019.
Fein went on to make 31 league appearances with HSV before going on loan once again last season, time this in the top tier of Dutch football at PSV Eindhoven. The young midfielder made 13 appearances across the 2020/21 season, and will now be on show for Bundesliga fans to enjoy at promoted Greuther Fürth.
Plays a bit like: Bastian Schweinsteiger
A versatile central midfielder who is good on the ball, Fein has been used in the number six position by Hamburg head coach Dieter Hecking. Able to build up play with probing passes and switches from a deep-lying role, his defensive game is improving too thanks to his time in Bundesliga 2. Someone who sees himself as a creative player, Fein has already been compared to Bayern legend and German World Cup hero Bastian Schweinsteiger – both because of his style and his close association with the club and city of Munich. And if Fein needs to know more about how Schweinsteiger refined his game, he can simply ask the retired player’s older brother Tobias. He’s now an assistant coach at Hamburg.
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Did you know?
Fein has been linked to Bayern since U9 level, when he switched from local rivals 1860 - the team his father supports. The move came about partly thanks to Hermann Hummels - father of Dortmund defender Mats - who was a scout at the German champions.
What they’re saying
"Adrian has gained a lot of match practice in Bundesliga 2 over the last one and a half years, making a lot of progress in his development. We're convinced of his potential, so we've bound him to FC Bayern over the long term." - Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic after announcing that Fein had extended his contract by two years to June 2023
"The time at Hamburger SV is very important for me. I can gain match practice and make progress." - Fein after signing his latest Bayern contract
"His first word was not mama but ball." - Fein’s father Oliver telling SportBild about how his son’s passion for football started at a very early age
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