With the Bundesliga Talent Series, the DFL is intensifying youth development in German top-level football and implementing a key recommendation of a broadly composed group of experts. This group was established by the DFL last year and included representatives from the Football and Youth Academy commissions, the DFL and the DFB, as well as external specialists, in order to develop concrete measures to strengthen German youth football. One key outcome of this work is the creation of additional playing opportunities for talents in the age group from U17 to U21 - the so-called transition phase. The new competition is designed precisely for this purpose: it provides young players on the verge of entering professional football with more match experience at a high competitive level.
Flexible competition format without additional teams
The Bundesliga Talent Series is designed as a voluntary additional offering with a high degree of flexibility for clubs and complements the existing league system. Participating clubs will draw on their existing player squads in the transition phase. In addition, up to four older players may be fielded per team. This not only enables targeted development of young talent but also provides players returning from injury with a platform to regain match fitness.
