All you need to know about the new U21 competition for Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2

Why an additional U21 competition?

A comprehensive data-driven analysis has revealed that the transition from youth to senior football represents a significant systemic bottleneck in German talent development. The existing league structure, which serves as a pathway to the Bundesliga, is insufficient for most players; a structured intermediate step is lacking. 

Furthermore, due to the structure of the German league system (the number of teams and matches, as well as the scheduling of professional and reserve-team fixtures in parallel), talented players in the top four leagues receive significantly less playing time than in England, Italy and Spain, at precisely the age when playing time at a high level is the most important factor in their development.

What is the specific aim of the competition?

The aim of the new competition is to provide additional high-quality playing time at a competitive level for top young players in the transition phase, as well as to extend their developmental period.