As Bayern Munich’s U-23 team, Bayern II, started their Regionalliga season on July 18 with a 1-0 win over SV Wacker, it is a good time to review the squad for the upcoming season and see which youngsters have a chance of featuring in the first team. These will be the top 7 Bayern II players with the best chances to do exactly that, ranked from least to most likely. The fact that a total of 7 youngsters at the club, without counting those on loan, have the quality and talent to possibly an appearance or two (or much more) for the first team this season is utterly remarkable. Though there is the caveat that between the time of writing, July 18, and the end of the transfer window some of these players could be loaned out or moved on. Without further ado, here is the list:
7. Jonah Kusi-Asare
17-year-old striker Jonah Kusi-Asare was a high profile signing in January of 2024, arriving for around €4.5 million. He celebrated his 17th birthday in July, making him the youngest member of the Bayern II squad, yet he is also one of the tallest at a remarkable 1.96 meters. He brings strength and real physical dominance with that stature, while his technical skills are far greater than any person that size should be able to possess.
The Swede’s potential remains huge, but he is at the bottom of this list because he is not only the youngest member of the squad and one of the newest, but he also recently suffered a serious injury that has kept him out for months. He still has not fully recovered to this day, which means he might miss multiple Regionalliga games with Bayern II, as well as pre-season and the ability to impress the senior team’s head coach Vincent Kompany. As of now, a lack of a replacement for Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting gives him a glimpse of first team opportunities but this season might well be used to establish himself with the U-23s, overcoming his injury before really knocking on the first team door.
6. Noel Aséko Nkili
Speaking of injuries, 18-year-old central midfielder Noel Aséko Nkili has had to deal with one after another upon his arrival at the club as one of the biggest German talents. His talent remains top end and his application, physicality, defensive nous and surprising efficiency in the press are all great, but far too often his first touch is unconvincing while his pass is not thought through and weighted wrong.
It is telling that, when Bayern announced the simultaneous contract extensions of Lovro Zvonarek, Adam Aznou and Nkili, the former two received three years extensions while Nkili only extended his contract until 2026. These injury issues are eating into Nkili’s development. If he can shake them off, he will be a candidate for the first team and could become the kind of physical destroyer in midfield that Germany has been crying out for. If not, he could be let go in the next couple of years. Nkili remains highly rated and may get opportunities in the first team, but he would have to remain injury free while Bayern’s senior midfielders are unavailable to get that shot.
5. Lennard Becker
This one may perhaps be a long shot. There are plenty of highly rated talents on this list and 18-year-old central midfielder Lennard Becker may not be rated as highly as the others, but it is not all about talent. After all, Aleksandar Pavlovic broke through to the first team in style despite not being the highest rated midfield talent at the club. One of the key attributes that elevated Pavlovic above the others was his ability to make mature decisions in midfield far beyond his years and Becker’s composure shines through in a similar fashion.
The 18-year-old also stands at an impressive 6’2” and generally demonstrates a physicality to his game that suits Bundesliga football slightly more than some others on the list. If Bayern Munich face an injury crisis and needs someone to cover in midfield, the club could do worse than calling up Becker. But that may also be a problem: The Bavarian giants, at the time of writing, have so many senior midfielders at the club who will always be preferred over Becker. Besides, the question as to his overall potential remains.
4. Adin Licina
While the other players on this list were purchased from other clubs sometime in the last three years, 17-year-old winger Adin Licina is the exception to that rule. Licina has been a highly rated member of the academy for many years now, impressing with his vision, quick feet and composure as he proved to be the bane of so many opposing full backs over the years. What speaks against him is that he currently lacks experience in the Regionalliga and the fact that Bayern currently have an abundance of forwards in the senior team.
3. Adam Aznou
Adam Aznou seems rather the opposite of Becker in that he has extraordinary talent and there may be a hint of an opening in the first team in his position next season, but that his ability to make the correct decisions on the football field remains difficult. His dribbling and skills with the ball are phenomenal, his speed is a vital asset and as a bonus the former Barcelona defender shows his roots with his phenomenal playmaking passing skills, but there is a problem when one has too many tools and does not know which one to use.
Too often, Aznou makes the wrong call, takes the wrong touch, delays a pass and makes dangerous plays in dangerous areas…for his own team. Additionally, there are serious questions to be asked about whether his body has filled out enough to play in a top division. He is just 17, so he has a lot of time to improve his decision making and a full season in the Regionalliga against adults should do him good. Given Alphonso Davies’ uncertain future, Aznou may be granted opportunity sooner than expected.
2. Nestory Irankunda
Of course Bayern Munich’s most highly heralded youth signing of the summer had to feature on the list. Nestory Irankunda stole the spotlight in the Australian A-League, impressing with his absolutely incredible speed and shot power, with his highlight reel depicting one impressive, impossible, astounding goal after the other, each more impressive than the last.
Of course, he is not the finished article yet. He relies too much on his speed to get past opponents, needs to learn the right time to pass or dribble and, while his ability to score incredible goals certainly is an advantage, he is also prone to shooting at wildly inopportune moments and from terrible positions. Still, he was clearly bought with the belief that he could make it into the first team, either now or in a couple of years. If there is anyone who can make it into the first team this season, it is him. Though…there is one who could be even more likely to make the first team this season.
1. Javier Fernandez
Javier Fernandez starts the summer off in a curious position. Having recovered from a long term injury, one that has kept him out for months, just days before the start of the senior side’s preseason means he might still be rusty to start the season. Meanwhile, the fact that he has just 1 year left on his contract clouds Fernandez’ future at the club. However, if he gets the opportunity to demonstrate his talents, he has every chance to impress.
The 17-year-old midfielder has matured mentally and physically during his 18 months in Munich, demonstrating his security on the ball, his physical dominance in midfield, the ability assume a leadership role and even the timing to make runs into the box to trouble the opposition. He is a phenomenally complete midfielder, with the one glaring weakness being his temperament: He is prone to making wild, uncontrolled challenges and losing his temper. Still, if he can overcome this issue, Javier Fernandez seems ready to challenge for a spot in Bayern Munich’s star-studded midfield.
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