Philipp Lahm "curious" about new German U21 league – but insists senior-level minutes remain key for young players

Philipp Lahm "curious" about new German U21 league – but insists senior-level minutes remain key for young players

Last month, the German Football League announced that a new voluntary U21 competition for clubs in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga will be introduced from the 2026/27 season, with the aim of offering young players another opportunity to gain playing time at a competitive level.

Germany and FC Bayern legend Philipp Lahm has now shared his view on the new league, saying that while he is open to the idea, he believes the most important factor for young players is gaining experience at senior level.

Lahm himself made 63 appearances for Bayern’s second team against senior opposition in the Regionalliga Süd before breaking into the first team – and he feels that experience made a big difference for him.

“First and foremost, I think it’s important to always keep developing. It did me a lot of good when I was an amateur or U23 player that I was facing seasoned senior players. That was a very important part of my maturation process. That’s why I prefer that path,” Lahm told Bulinews.com.

“But I also understand that people want to compare talented players directly against each other. I’m curious about it. I’m always open to new approaches – you have to see how it works in practice,” added the German World Cup winner.

The importance of lean squads

According to Lahm, another key factor is ensuring that there is space in professional squads for young players to break through and earn regular playing time.

As an example, he pointed to 18-year-old Lennart Karl, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season at FC Bayern after being given consistent opportunities.