Bundesliga - The Golden league for youngsters

The German top flight has the highest game time for players aged 20 or below compared to English Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga

Gavi recently emerged as the winner of the Golden Boy award for 2022, beating out a number of some of the world's best young players like Jamal Musiala, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Pedri. However, if we examine all 20 nominees closer, we quickly see that the majority of them hail from the Bundesliga.

In the final shortlist of 20 players, six players hail Germany's top division, highlighting the Bundesliga's underrated status. Not just this year, Bundesliga's young players have always been at the top of the charts. From Erling Haaland to Jaden Sancho to Jude Bellingham to Luka Jovic and many others, Bundesliga has always been a hive of talent development. 

Having said that, the real question now is what makes the Bundesliga the best league for young players. Let's unravel this mystery and find out why the Bundesliga is the best league for youngsters.

Minutes are the Key

A big draw for any youngster who enters the Bundesliga is the minutes offered to them by their club. The German top division has been heaven for young players in terms of playing time. In contrast to the Premier League, where foreign players account for 66% of all minutes, it is one of the few leagues around the world that are not dependent on overseas stars. 

The English Premier League might offer big salaries to youngsters, but playing time is something they cannot guarantee. Last season players aged 20 and under 20 accounted for 33,741 minutes in Bundesliga which is the highest among Serie A, La Liga, and Premier League. Callum Hudson is the latest name to join this list and is in line to follow in the footsteps of Jaden Sancho and Jaden Bellingham.

Underrated Competitiveness

In comparison to other top European leagues, FC Bayern's dominance in the Bundesliga every season is often mentioned as one horse race point. Bundesliga's competitiveness, however, is arguably on par with any top European league and it does not reflect the whole story. 

Let's take recent examples of players like Erling Haaland, and Robert Lewandowski who were dubbed as Bundesliga bullies for their extraordinary stats in the Bundesliga. But now both of them have left the league and are top goalscorers of their respective leagues by a fine margin which is enough to prove Bundesliga's superiority.

Chance to test at higher levels

Another advantage for young players joining Bundesliga is the chance to play in European competitions such as Champions League or Europa League. Competitions such as these are the pinnacle of club competitions, and one of the best opportunities for young players to test their skills against the best in the world.

An example is Callum Hudson who recently moved to Bayer Leverkusen on a loan deal from Chelsea. Bayer Leverkusen's English winger has started in all Champions League matches so far, something he may not have done at Chelsea. Although Chelsea is more regular in European competitions, chances for younger players like Callum Hudson to play in the Champions League are always low.

Never-ending cycle of talents in the Bundesliga

The Bundesliga is without a doubt the best league for producing great players. Every year, a new player emerges and shocks the world. Every year, however, many big names and youngsters also leave, leaving a question mark about Bundesliga losing its shine.

There hasn't been a lone impact on the league despite the departure of big names like Christian Pulisic in 2019, Pierre Aubameyang in 2018, Kai Havertz in 2020, Timo Werner in 2020, Jaden Sancho in 2021, and Erling Haaland in 2022. Each year a new star emerges, which also creates healthy competition between the young players in the League. Like last year, Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham argued over who is the best.