DFL honours home-grown players on their debuts

The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) has honoured 16 homegrown players who have come through the ranks at their club to make their debut during the first half of the 2025/26 Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 campaigns.

The DFL's 'Local Player Rule' sets a minimum number of homegrown players in the squads of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs in order to encourage long-term investment in youth development across German professional football.

A 'Local Player' is defined as being a player who has spent at least three years registered with the club between his 15th and 21st year and was eligible to play for them.

Clubs must have at least eight 'Local Players' registered in their squad list, at least four of whom must have been trained by the club itself.

Goalkeeper Mio Backhaus has come through to become first choice at Werder Bremen. - SV Werder Bremen

Heidenheim's Adam Kölle is a prime example of youth development done right. Born in Tübingen, he worked his way through the club's youth academy before joining the first-team squad last summer. After featuring for both the U17 and U19 sides, he made his Bundesliga debut in the Matchday 4 game at Hamburg and marked the occasion with a goal. 

Bundesliga 2 also saw 'Local Players' make their senior bows. Schalke duo Mertcan Ayhan and Vitalie Becker made their debuts on Matchday 1 against Hertha Berlin, while no fewer than three Dynamo Dresden youngsters also registered their maiden first-team appearance.

In recognition of this milestone in their career, all debutants received bespoke TOPPS Football Trading Cards from their debut games.

Adam Kölle has risen through the ranks to the Heidenheim first team. - 1. FC Heidenheim 1846

Andreas Nagel, DFL Director Sport & Youth Development, said: "By recognising the 'Local Player' debutants, the DFL underlines the importance of youth development and demonstrates its commitment to fostering young talent in German football. This initiative highlights the importance of investing in player education and development. It is one of numerous measures designed to ensure the long-term quality and competitiveness of German football."

'Local Player' debutants in the first half of 2025/26

• Mertcan Ayhan, Schalke | Debut on 1/8/25 vs. Hertha Berlin
• Mio Backhaus, Werder Bremen | Debut on 23/8/25 vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
• Vitalie Becker, Schalke | Debut on 1/8/25 vs. Hertha Berlin
• Marvin Benjamins, Preußen Münster | Debut on 26/10/25 vs. Magdeburg
• Ben Justus Bobzien, Mainz | Debut on 31/8/25 vs. Wolfsburg
• Jan Bürger, Wolfsburg | Debut on 22/11/25 vs. Bayer Leverkusen
• Adam Kölle, Heidenheim | Debut on 20/9/25 vs. Hamburg
• Kacper Koscierski, Bochum | Debut on 10/8/25 vs. Elversberg
• Mateo Kritzer, Karlsruhe | Debut on 27/9/25 vs. Magdeburg
• Cajetan Benjamin Lenz, Bochum | Debut on 2/8/25 vs. Darmstadt
• Filippo Mané, Borussia Dortmund | Debut on 23/8/25 vs. St. Pauli
• Raul Marita, Greuther Fürth | Debut on 19/10/25 vs. Elversberg
• Tony Menzel, Dynamo Dresden | Debut on 24/8/25 vs. Arminia Bielefeld
• Friedrich Müller, Dynamo Dresden | Debut on 21/11/25 vs. Bochum
• Jonas Oehmichen, Dynamo Dresden | Debut on 3/8/25 vs. Greuther Fürth
• Eric Porstner, Nuremberg | Debut on 29/11/25 vs. Magdeburg

Eric Porstner also made his senior bow with Nuremberg in Bundesliga 2. - 1. FC Nürnberg