Jurgen Klopp and World Cup Winner Introduces New German League

The Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull, Jurgen Klopp, has already been linked to the Real Madrid job, which has been in the headlines in recent weeks. However, the German coach is now spearheading a plan to create a new German league alongside 2014 World Cup-winning midfielder Sami Khedira. The former Liverpool boss has also roped in DFB Managing Director Andreas Rettig and DFL CEO Marc Lenz, alongside the Real Madrid midfielder, for the plans of a new U21 league.

The idea stems from the rise in concerns about young players struggling to break through at the first-team level in their respective Bundesliga clubs. The group believes the creation of the U21 league will help young talents gain footballing experience before making the step up to the top division of German football.

Why Is There Need For A New German League Below Bundesliga?

The legendary manager Jurgen Klopp and the group are worried about the current system in place, which has made things extremely difficult for young German players to impress and make the jump to first-team football in the Bundesliga. Some damning stats regarding youth development also fuel the group's concern.

According to BILD, only nine German academies are among the top 100 most productive academies in Europe. Another conclusive revelation is that other top European footballing nations like Spain, France, and England produce more homegrown talent than Germany. While youth academies in a country like England produce around 641 players, German youth academies only produce 338 players.

The concerns are also increasing exponentially from the fact that 85% of footballing minutes in the Bundesliga are played by non-academy players. Klopp and Khedira, along with the DFB and DFL, aim to tackle and put an end to this concerning trend with the creation of a U21 league.

What's Next For The Jurgen Klopp Plan Of Creating a Bundesliga U21 League?

The plan is being extended as an offer to all the Bundesliga clubs, with participation being kept voluntary. Klopp's group has also decided on a June 15, 2026, deadline for Bundesliga clubs to respond and take part in the first half of the season, set to happen between August and December 2026. The deadline for participating in the second half of the season is January 15, 2027, as the action will commence from January to April 2027.

Bundesliga U21 league is seen as an additional competition and not aimed at solving the ongoing regional league problem faced by the DFB working group. The league will follow a Swiss model similar to the UEFA Champions League, as teams will play six games each. The group aims to organize a Final Four tournament in May 2027, which will feature the top two teams from each half-season, who will play in the semis, a third-place match, and a final.