11 Bundesliga Talents in Golden Boy Race
The race to crown Europe's next Golden Boy is heating up, with 11 Bundesliga stars making the prestigious 100-player shortlist. Following in the footsteps of previous winner Lamine Yamal, these young talents have showcased exceptional potential in Germany's top flight.
Top Bundesliga Contenders for the Golden Boy Award
1. Tom Bischof - Bayern Munich (Ranked 16th)
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder made waves at Hoffenheim before earning a summer move to Bayern Munich. His breakout 2024/25 season featured 5 goals and 2 assists, earning him a call-up to Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad for the Nations League Final Four.
2. Antonio Nusa - RB Leipzig (Ranked 22nd)
The Norwegian winger impressed in his debut Bundesliga campaign with Leipzig, scoring crucial goals including the winner on opening day against Bochum. His 3 goals and 3 assists in 25 appearances showcase his growing influence.
3. Arthur Vermeeren - RB Leipzig (Unranked)
The Belgian midfielder grew into his loan spell from Atletico Madrid, becoming a key figure in Leipzig's midfield with 13 starts in their final 19 matches. His passing range and defensive work rate proved invaluable.
4. Jean-Mattéo Bahoya - Eintracht Frankfurt (Ranked 63rd)
The French forward stepped up after Omar Marmoush's departure, contributing 3 goals and an assist in the second half of the season. His blistering pace was highlighted by a Bundesliga speed record of 37.16 km/h.
5. Can Uzun - Eintracht Frankfurt (Ranked 67th)
The Turkish-German talent made an immediate impact after joining from Nuremberg, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists despite primarily coming off the bench.
6. El Chadaille Bitshiabu - RB Leipzig (Ranked 65th)
The towering French defender overcame injury concerns to make 21 appearances, tripling his previous season's tally. His composure on the ball complements his physical presence.
7. Paul Wanner - Heidenheim (Ranked 68th)
The Bayern loanee shone in difficult circumstances, scoring 3 goals including a spectacular strike against Stuttgart. His technical quality stood out during Heidenheim's relegation battle.
8. Bence Dardai - Wolfsburg (Ranked 72nd)
The Hungarian midfielder made an impressive leap from Hertha Berlin's youth team to becoming a Bundesliga regular, starting 16 matches for Wolfsburg.
9. Julien Duranville - Borussia Dortmund (Ranked 75th)
Despite injury setbacks, the Belgian winger featured in Dortmund's Champions League campaign, including a standout performance against Barcelona at Signal Iduna Park.
10. Finn Jeltsch - Stuttgart (Unranked)
The 18-year-old center-back made an immediate impact after joining from Nuremberg in January, starting 9 of Stuttgart's final 13 matches and featuring in their DFB Cup triumph.
11. Nelson Weiper - Mainz (Ranked 100th)
The Germany U21 international contributed crucial goals in Mainz's push for European qualification, including a late equalizer against Holstein Kiel.
These rising stars represent the Bundesliga's commitment to developing young talent, with several already making impacts at international level. Their continued development could see Germany's top flight produce its next Golden Boy winner.