Bundesliga 2 youngsters to watch in 2025/26
There are some huge potential future stars ready to shine in Bundesliga 2 in 2025/26. Will the likes of Kjell Wätjen, Artem Stepanov and Maurice Krattenmacher, on loan from Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich respectively, seize their chance?
Kjell Wätjen
Age: 19 (born 16 February 2006)
Club: Bochum (on loan from Borussia Dortmund)
Position: Central midfielder
Country: Germany (25 youth caps, five goals)
Bochum and Bundesliga 2 fans can look forward to seeing the highly rated attacking midfielder in action during his season-long loan. With four Bundesliga appearances for the Black-Yellows (with one assist), he has shown for Dortmund II in the third tier just how threatening his technical mastery and strong running can be. The youngster looks ready to take the next step by gaining regular playing time as Dieter Hecking seeks to guide Bochum straight back to the Bundesliga.
Jarzinho Malanga
Age: 19 (born 10 July 2006)
Club: Elversberg (on loan from VfB Stuttgart)
Position: Left winger
Country: Germany (21 youth caps)
Elversberg were boosted this summer by taking the talented and versatile young attacker on a season-long loan. Malanga had threatened to make a breakthrough at his parent club last season, and made his first-team debut in a UEFA Champions League tie against Atalanta before gaining two more appearances in the competition as well as getting his first taste of Bundesliga action as a late substitute against St. Pauli. After Elversberg made the promotion/relegation play-off last season, Malanga is the kind of talent who could complete a fairy-tale ascent to the top flight.
Luca Raimund
Age: 20 (born 9 April 2005)
Club: Fortuna Düsseldorf (on loan from VfB Stuttgart)
Position: Right winger
Country: Germany (eight youth caps)
Another Stuttgart loanee looking to take Bundesliga 2 by storm at promotion hopefuls Fortuna, Raimund is most at home on the right flank but has been deployed in several positions in attack. He made three substitute appearances for his parent club in the top flight in 2023/24, until injury struggles set his development back last season. An ambitious Fortuna side could be the ideal platform to get his pro career back on track.
Artem Stepanov
Age: 17 (born 10 August 2007)
Club: Nuremberg (on loan from Bayer Leverkusen)
Position: Centre-forward
Country: Ukraine (12 youth caps, eight goals)
Gaining playing time is not always easy for young strikers, even if they come with such talent as the 6'4'' striker on loan from Leverkusen. The powerful attacker's numbers speak to his great promise, with 10 goals in as many appearances for Leverkusen's U19 side. Having made two UEFA Champions League appearances for Die Werkself, a season at Nuremberg could provide the perfect opportunity for the youngster to refine his superb scoring ability, with Miroslav Klose the ideal coach to further hone his finishing.
Maurice Krattenmacher
Age: 19 (born 11 August 2005)
Club: Hertha Berlin (on loan from Bayern Munich)
Position: Attacking midfield
Country: Germany (23 youth caps, five goals)
Krattenmacher swapped the FIFA Club World Cup for Bundesliga 2, joining Hertha on loan for the 2025/26 season during the tournament in the USA after being an unused substitute in Bayern's group-stage victories over Auckland City and Boca Juniors. The confident and skillful teenager claimed three goals and eight assists on loan at Ulm in the second flight last season.
Louey Ben Farhat
Age: 18 (born 19 July 2006)
Club: Karlsruhe
Position: Attacker
Country: Tunisia (three U20 caps)
The nimble attacker extended his contract this summer after emerging from the Karlsruhe youth ranks and grabbing three goals in the second half of last season - including a strike within 15 seconds of kick-off in a 1-1 draw against Preußen Münster on Matchday 29. He will be raring to go and add to his tally in 2025/26.
Taylan Bulut
Age: 19 (born 19 January 2006)
Club: Schalke
Position: Right-back
Country: Germany (33 youth caps)
Schalke have a long track record of developing young talents and Bulut is the latest hot prospect at the fiercely supported club. He made a total of 24 appearances in 2024/25 and provided a dependable presence in Schalke's turbulent campaign, both on the right and in defensive midfield. He could develop into the kind of player the club can build their bid to regain top-flight status around.
Caspar Jander
Age: 22 (born 23 March 2003)
Club: Nuremberg
Position: Midfielder
Country: Germany (nine youth caps)
Jander is a youngster who has already made quite a name for himself. Three goals and nine assists in 32 Bundesliga 2 encounters last season led to a call-up and three appearances for Germany's U21 at this summer's Euros. With his calmness on the ball, willingness to work off it and sharp positional awareness, Jander has everything needed to continue his upwards trajectory.
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