With the Bundesliga kick-off just four days away, fans the length and breadth of Germany await the start with growing expectation and champions Bayern Munich will raise the curtain when they host Red Bull Leipzig on Friday.
The SBOTOP Bundesliga 2025 betting odds back a Bavarian triumph and Vincent Kompany’s men have already won the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup with a 2-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart last weekend. And the Munich giants have been busy in the market as they try to keep the chasing back at arm’s length.
I’m hoping for, and expecting, a competitive race and to see some superb young talents break through to make the headlines. So let’s take a look at the top nine clubs from the 2024/25 campaign and shine the spotlight on a young star who can get the fans off their seats.
Tom Bischof: Bayern Munich
The arrival of Colombian winger Luis Diaz from Liverpool dominated the Bundesliga 2025 news agenda in Bavaria but there was another arrival which could really set the pulses racing in the stands. 20 year old midfielder Bischof arrived from TSG Hoffenheim after an agreement made between the two clubs in January and he made his debut for Bayern at the Club World Cup. The 20 year old is technically superb and, while he can play in a deep lying role he has the energy to operate as a box to box midfielder or on the right flank; and he has a spectacular goal in him.
Jeanuel Belocian: Bayer Leverkusen
After a second placed finish last term Die Werkself are one of the teams most likely to upset the Bavarians and while Leverksuen will play an expansive and attacking style of football, one of their most exciting prospects is 20 year old centre back Belocian. The France U21 star signed for Bayer on a five year deal in 2024 and he made five appearances during the 2024/25 campaign. A cultured player who is strong in the tackle Belocian can operate in front of the back four too, to give manager Erik ten Hag more options.
Jean- Matteo Bahoya: Eintracht Frankfurt
The Eagles finished third last season, despite the loss of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in the January transfer window. Bahoya was one of the stars who made an increasing impact as the campaign wore on and he provided plenty of ammunition for Hugo Ekitike, now a Liverpool player as Frankfurt kept up the pace at the top end of the table. The left winger finished with three goals and four assists and he is sure to play a bigger role in the coming campaign.
Jobe Bellingham: Borussia Dortmund
Following in the footsteps of his big brother Jude, BVB’s new signing, at the age of 19, could turn out to be another masterstroke. Bellingham was instrumental in Sunderland’s surprise promotion to the Premier League last term and that earned him a big money move to Dortmund. Like his kid brother the 19 year old Jobe has superb control and the ability to make driving runs deep into opposition territory.
Derry Scherhant: SC Freiburg
Freiburg’s 22 year old striker Scherant is a product of the Hertha Berlin academy, where he scored 16 goals in 34 games in the club’s B Team as an 18 year old. He signed his senior professional contract in 2023, a four year deal, but Freiburg activated his release clause and he was unveiled in May 2025. At 6ft 1in the Germany U21 star has power and pace and he will strengthen Freiburg’s hand in their domestic campaign and in Europe.
Nelson Weiper: Mainz
Another big young striker who is a good bet for a breakthrough season is FSV Mainz star Weiper, a 20 year old who stands at 6ft 3in. He scored his first senior goal in a 4-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in 2023 and has since scored five goals in 37 games for Mainz and four in 11 for Germany U21s. A superb target man, if Weiper can step up this term, he could become the natural successor to the legendary Thomas Muller for Germany.
El Chadaille Bitshiabu: Red Bull Leipzig
Die Roten Bullen have a good chance to challenge at the top this term as they are the only one of the big four (including Bayern, BVB and Bayer) who don’t have European football this season. Leipzig has always been a fertile ground for young players and 20 year old centre back Bitshiabu has huge potential. Since transferring from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 he has shown signs that he can go all the way, with strength, pace and great distribution skills.
Samuel-Germain Kinduelu: Werder Bremen
21 year old winger Kinduelu is Bremen’s second most expensive recruit in history, signing from Juventus for a fee of 10m Euros plus add-ons. He scored on his Bianconeri debut on the first day of the 2024/25 campaign, in a 3-0 win over Como, and he has also starred in the Champions League, scoring a goal against PSV Eindhoven. Kinduelu could turn out to be the signing of the summer.
Finn Jeltsch: VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart had a disappointing campaign last term but they secured European football by winning the DFB Pokal Cup. 18-year-old Jeltsch transferred from FC Nurnberg in January and became a starter pretty much straight away, clocking up 12 appearances in the run-in. A calm and dominant centre back, with maturity beyond his years, Jeltsch is one of the Bundesliga’s brightest talents.
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