Six players in focus
© Imago
Last season, talented footballers such as Finn Jeltsch, Bence Dárdai or Can Uzun were able to set the first fragrance brands in the Bundesliga. Preparation for the 2025/26 season has again given promising teenagers the chance to prove themselves in the professional sector. Transfer market has examined six talents from Hamburg to Munich, which could make their breakthrough this season.
Jonah Kusi-Asare-FC Bayern
At FC Bayern, Jonah Kusi-Asare should collect significantly more minutes than in the previous year. The 18 -year -old center forward, who came from AIK in winter 2024 for 3.5 million euros, made his debut against Mainz (3-0) shortly before the final whistle last season. Another Bundesliga mission was denied, instead he was mostly used at the reserve and in the U19. In the regional league Bavaria, he was involved in four goals in twelve games.
Behind Harry Kane is the only nominal nine in the squad of coach Vincent Kompany. According to a “Sky” report, the record champion is planning with him as a backup of the Englishman, which is why his contract, which expires in 2026, is to be extended shortly. In preparation, the 1.96 meter tall Swede convinced with goals against Grasshoppers Zurich (2: 1) and Tottenham Hotspur (4: 0).
Kusi-Asare was not yet used in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart (2-0)-he saw the game from the bank for 90 minutes. At the press conference, Kompany previously said that he had the intention of giving the talents a chance. However, the Belgian also warned: “This is a long -term process, not just a game and not just a little hype now. It’s about a successful career – not just about ten games.” That is not enough. “
Since Kompany has not previously appeared as a great youth promoter, TM user and Bayern expert “Teec3”: “Kusi-Asare is a modern center forward of his facilities, the speed, technical strength and a good conclusion. In the position game, so that he takes part in the game.
Filippo Mane – Borussia Dortmund
Filippo Mane could use the injury misery in the defense center of Borussia Dortmund. Since Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle and Emre can fail for the time being, the 20-year-old is the only fit in the squad alongside Waldemar Anton. In the DFB Cup against Rot-Weiss Essen (1-0) he celebrated his professional debut on the right side in the triple chain.
“He does it really well. The last action, especially, has not really talked about it yet, was outstanding about him,” said goalkeeper Gregor Kobel at “Sport1”. Mane would have been able to celebrate his debut for BVB professionals, but in the previous season the Italian junior national player threw various muscle injuries back. He only completed five games for the U23 in the 3rd division. Mane himself said at the BVB website in early August: “I am really a defender who loves to defend and try not to allow goals and play in a white vest. That is exactly what a defender should do. So I’m strongly focused on the defensive.”
TM editor Benedikt Benedikt Duda explains: “Mining are that of a classic central defender: duels and air duels. He throws everything in defensively, but stays pale when building the game. With the ball, he plays it safe, which is not completely wrong for the beginning in the Bundesliga. If he is finally spared from the injury badge, Mane could benefit from the bottleneck in the BVB defense. The debut in the DFB Cup was still missing in some situations, but he was able to quickly take off nervousness and uncertainty. ”
Patrice Covic – Werder Bremen
In recent years, Werder Bremen has not exactly stood for promoting players from their own offspring, which was painfully manifested in the example of Nick Woltemade, who debuted in the national team just a year after his transfer -free move to Stuttgart. This should change under Horst Steffen and 18-year-old Patrice Covic debut in the DFB Cup on the left offensive wing. “He also worked a lot against the ball and was very ballproof. I can only compliment him to make a first game here in Bielefeld – I thought that was great,” said Managing Director Football Clemens Fritz about Covics.
Covic performed strongly for the U19 of the green-whites, which won the DFB Cup and reached the semi-finals of the German Championship. In the final against Karlsruher SC (2-0 NV), the Croatian junior international scored the lead. He was also involved in 18 goals in 28 missions in which he was mainly used on the ten. He made it into the Bundesliga squad of the Bremen several times, and he was denied an assignment.
TM editor Lennart Gens explains: “Patrice Covic recommended himself as the strongest player of Werder’s A-Youth last year. As a creative player on the offensive, he impresses with a good technique and, despite a height of 1.82 meters, is agile and dribble-strong. The fact that he stood directly in the DFB Cup directly in the starting eleven, was not surprising and should not be the norm, but should not be shown, how close he is to the regular players. ” Covic, son of ex-Hertha coach Ante Covic, can play both on both outer lanes and in the offensive midfield. On the wing, he competes with Königstransfer Samuel Mbangula, Marco Grüll and Justin Njinmah, although Grüll had to fill the vacuum in the attack center.
David Odogu – VfL Wolfsburg
At VfL Wolfsburg, David Odogu could become a shooting star. At the end of last season, the 19 -year -old central defender in the Bundesliga made their debut in the starting XI. In summer, Kaiserslautern and Nuremberg showed interest in the 1.91 meter tall Odogu, who wants to prevail in Wolfsburg. “Despite my young age, I want to bring my leadership into the team and help with my duel strength,” he told the “WAZ”.
Odogu has been known to many fans since the 2023 U17 World Cup, in which he became world champion. He is also a U17 European champion, but only came to the tournament for the DFB team. Although he was not in the squad in the DFB Cup against fifth division Hemelingen (9-0), he could still get to play, because Denis Vavro will be longer with an injury in the adductor area. Odogu competes with Moritz Jenz, who was supposed to leave the club, around Constantinos Koulierakis.
Wael Mohya – Borussia Mönchengladbach
At Borussia Mönchengladbach, 16-year-old Wael Mohya gained initial experience with the professionals in preparation. However, an inner ligament tear in the knee ensured that his debut was postponed at least until autumn. Nevertheless, the offensive midfielder has a good chance of becoming the youngest Gladbacher of the club history.
Mohya has proven in the U17 of the Gladbachers that he can be a difference. With the foal youngsters, he celebrated the German championship, in which he had a large part in the crucial games. In the semi -finals against FC Bayern (3-1) he scored twice, in the final against RB Leipzig (3: 1) he scored a goal and prepared another. “You always have to be careful not to go up anyone too early. But Wael is incredibly ripe for his age, makes clever decisions on the pitch, always has the follow-up campaign. He is totally willing to learn, get advice from the older players, always wants to improve. A highly exciting boy, said Roland Virkus, managing director of sport, the” picture “.
TM-UNER and GLADBACH expert “Borussenuwe” describes: “Wael Mohya impresses with an exceptionally good game instinct-he always has the follow-up campaign in view and makes clever decisions in the field. For his age, he is very far as far as the topic of decision-making. On the way, he is extremely important to the older player. DFB Cup game. ”
Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit-Hamburger SV
At Hamburger SV, a new addition from winter could become a shooting star. For Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit, the promoted team paid EUR 2.8 million to Lillestrøm in January. The 18-year-old left wing was allowed to start in the DFB Cup against fifth division Pirmasens (2: 1 NV), since Jean-Luc Dompé was missing due to injury.
In the promotion season, Røssing-Lelesiit was only enough for two short missions, at the first competitive game 2025/26 he was rewarded by coach Merlin Polzin for his work in summer. After the U19 European Championship, where he performed well for Norway, he shortened his vacation and gave up physically. “Alex still has a lot of things that he has to work on. We are busy there, but above all he is after it himself,” confirmed Polzin.
Market value admin and HSV expert Tobias Kröger says: “Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit is a faster and dribble-strong wing player who likes to go into one-on-one and drawn attention to himself at the U19 European Championship. Candidate for an expensive sale in the next few years if he takes further steps in development. ”