Where on earth do they keep getting them from? Alex Chaffer introduces you to the latest whizz-kids in Germany you need to know about...
Germany’s World Cup win, coupled with their Under-19s claiming Euros glory in Hungary this summer, has once again reminded the world of their enviable production line.
Fourteen of Germany’s 23 players in Brazil were under 25, and with plenty more youngsters set to shine in the Bundesliga next season, FFT brings you five more who'll have the eyes of the Premier League's elite watching closely.
Donis Avdijaj
Who is he? Schalke’s latest wunderkind has torn apart Germany’s U17 and U19 leagues over the last three seasons. Having trained with the first team for pre-season this summer, the 17-year-old will be itching to make his mark on the Bundesliga in 2014/15.
Germany’s 1996-born group is being tipped to refresh the top flight with even more talented stars over the coming years, with the likes of Timo Werner, Jonathan Tah and Julian Brandt already making their mark. Avdijaj is next in line.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
It’s hard not to take a second look at a scoring record as strong as Avdijaj’s in Schalke’s youth team. Fifty-nine goals and 15 assists in 53 U17 appearances earned him a year with the U19s, where he broke records: 44 goals and 13 assists in 25 games (a goal every 47 minutes) for the older age group earned him training time with the seniors, and international recognition with Germany’s U17s (where he also has 10 goals in 13 matches).
At 5ft 7in, he’s not your modern day Bundesliga striker, with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Mario Mandzukic and Edin Dzeko flourishing in recent years at over 6ft. Avdijaj makes up for his lack of height with his mesmerisingly quick feet and impressive balance.
He was one of three Schalke stars who put pen to paper on professional contracts with the club last season, nullifying interest from Liverpool. Best mate and fellow futsal extraordinaire Max Meyer believes the 17-year-old will become one of Germany’s best, and Schalke manager Jens Keller agrees. “Donis has enough quality to make the same impact as Max,” he said.
By signing, Avdijaj became Schalke’s most valuable player without having played a single minute of first-team football. He extended his three-year deal to five in February, coupled with a €50 million release clause – €5m more than Julian Draxler. “Talent comes with a price, and we want to keep our most talented stars,” chimed Schalke's general manager Horst Heldt to Bild.
Who does he remind you of?
As a smaller goalscoring forward, Michael Owen. His smooth skills have seen him compared with Robinho, and Barcelona's Pedro for his pace.
Would be perfect for
Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea.
Erik Durm
Who is he? The newest member of Dortmund’s big-hair gang is a forward-turned-left-back; in short, “one of the most dynamic young players that I’ve seen here at Dortmund,” according to bearded genius Jurgen Klopp.
Durm has been nurtured into a defender who made Germany’s World Cup squad after just one full first-team season. He joined Dortmund from Mainz, after netting 29 goals in 58 youth games in the Port City. He was offered a four-year deal by the club before departing without the first-team assurances he wanted. Dortmund came calling, and after 22 games in yellow last season, so did Germany.
Why you need to know him Durm was the shining light in Dortmund’s recent injury-hit campaign, coming from nowhere to hold the defence together. The Pirmasens-born 22-year-old immediately shifted from attack to defence upon his arrival, and hasn’t looked back.
Durm made himself known with a performance that made Arjen Robben look ordinary as Dortmund took the German champions apart at the Allianz Arena (3-0). He was also entrusted with containing Gareth Bale against Real Madrid in the Champions League, so he’s already faced the biggest of tests. Couple his natural attacking ability and pace with his newly discovered defensive qualities and you find all the ingredients for a world-class full-back.
Who does he remind you of?
With his long legs and assured ability on the ball, Jan Vertonghen is a reasonable point of comparison, although Nuri Sahin did dub him “Piszczek Junior” early last season.
Who is he? Mainz man Geis is already a Bundesliga regular, having played 33 times for die Nullfünfer last season (and all but two of them starts). With youthfully well-maintained hair, accompanying girlfriend, teenage grin and black tattoos, the former Greuther Fürth star is The Footballer in a nutshell.
The Schweinfurt-born youngster has represented Germany at every level from U16s through to the U21s. After bouncing around three TSV clubs in his boyhood, Geis got his 2.Bundesliga chance with Fürth in late 2010. He was part of the 2012/13 team that lasted just a single season in the top flight, making eight appearances, but by this point Mainz had seen enough to part with €800k for the holding midfielder's services.
Why you need to know him When Jogi Löw revealed his 30-man provisional World Cup squad, then-Mainz manager Thomas Tuchel was furious that Geis wasn’t included: "He showed a maturity and took responsibility in his position for us superbly, and I felt he should’ve been rewarded by Joachim," grumbled the highly rated coach. "He’ll be there soon, though, I’m sure."
Geis has admitted looking up to Bastian Schweinsteiger throughout his development, and it’s clear that he has modelled himself on the Bayern man's style of play. His job last season under Tuchel was to protect the back-line and begin attacks from deep. It’s not just his style of play and ability in executing it that is so impressive, however, but also his maturity in doing so. In his first full season he has already displayed attributes of an experienced Bundesliga player.
One goal and seven assists doesn’t jump out, but an average of four blocks, clearances and interceptions per game last season does. Essentially, he’s great at doing the jobs no one else wants. Watch out for his first-time crosses as well: two of his assists came from them last season, with Geis later revealing his love of a quick delivery.
Who does he remind you of?
His resemblance to Schweinsteiger shows the type of player he has the ability of becoming in the future.
Having conceded the joint-second highest amount of goals in the Bundesliga last season (70), it's hard to find positives in Hoffenheim’s defence. Nevertheless, boss Marcus Gisdol appears to have unearthed another German gem in 18-year-old centre-back Süle.
The young stopper already holds two records at the Sinsheim club; when making his debut against Hamburg at the end of 2012/13, he became the youngest-ever first-team player for the club. His goal against Bayern Munich last season, meanwhile, made him Hoffenheim's youngest goalscorer.
At the start of 2013/14, aged 17, he was named on the bench and given his first start against Cottbus in the DFB-Pokal, impressing in a 3-0 win. He went on to start in all but five of the remaining league games, scoring four times – once against Bayern, and another in Dortmund from 25 yards (with a little help from Roman Weidenfeller).
He impressed Hoffenheim bigwigs enough to earn a new three-year contract in November, and while Ermin Bicakcic has been snapped up from Eintracht Braunschweig to help shore up the back-line this summer, Süle is assured of his place in the squad.
Why you need to know him
Few 18-year-old centre-backs start 20 top-flight games in their debut season. Süle took to the challenge admirably, despite making youthful mistakes; rash slide tackles and giving away easy free-kicks.
Most would hide away from criticism at such a young age, but Süle has embraced his need for development. "I’ve been improving my standing tackling in training," he told Bild. "After I gave away the penalty against Wolfsburg in the cup, I said to myself: 'this must not happen again'. Next season I want to play even more games and make even fewer mistakes."
Fitness was also an issue at times, which the youngster also wants to address this season: "I want to lose weight, a few kilos, to be more mobile and have more agility." His desire to improve is something worth applauding. That said, Süle also claimed he wants to be improving when he’s 35. We wish him luck with that.
Who does he remind you of?
He’s been compared to Bayern Munich’s Holger Badstuber – being 6ft 4in helps. Think a quicker Per Mertesacker, with better hair and fewer dances moves.
(Ed's note: Sadly, Junior's promising career was cut short when he was killed in a car crash on January 10, 2015.)
Who is he? OK, so he's not German. But Belgium’s latest breakthrough talent is keen to impress at Wolfsburg after last season's successful loan spell at former club Zulte Waregem. The 19-year-old powerhouse joined die Wölfe last summer on a five-year deal, before returning to Belgium where his three assists and three goals in the Jupiler Pro League earned him an early recall.
Malanda’s return was cut short through injury, but he made a lasting impression on the fans, players and, most importantly, boss Dieter Hecking. After Malanda's injury against Dortmund, Hecking said: "He was one of our most active players. He's a young lad but he showed that he's already capable of assuming the responsibility."
Why you need to know him The Brussels-born defensive midfielder made his name in France, after joining Lille’s youth setup from Anderlecht in 2007. He played alongside Romelu Lukaku in his childhood days, and was being tipped to make a late surge for Belgium's World Cup squad before getting crocked.
Wolfsburg, with the backing of their Volkswagen owners, look likely to have their most successful Bundesliga season since winning the title in 2008/09. Malanda is expected to play a crucial role in Hecking’s plans as he enters his second year at the VW-Arena.
Though a defensive worker by trade, Malanda was given more freedom by Wolfsburg upon his return last season, faith which was rewarded with two goals in seven appearances. His raw strength and excellent passing are the key reasons Arsenal and Everton have reportedly shown interest in the last year.
Who does he remind you of?
At 5ft 11in, he’s perhaps not as tall as most dominating midfielders. But he is also technically gifted – like a shorter Yaya Toure.
Would be perfect for
Tottenham, Everton.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
