Tyler Adams, Alphonso Davies and the top 5 most promising players to look out for in 2019/20
Last year it was Jadon Sancho, before him Kai Havertz and before that Christian Pulisic: every new season in the Bundesliga inevitably produces at least one youngster who takes the senior game by storm. With that in mind, we've dusted off the crystal ball to gaze ahead to who might shine in 2019/20…
Tyler Adams
Age: 20
Club: RB Leipzig
Position: Central midfielder
Bundesliga minutes so far: 723 (over 10 games)
The story so far: Signed from the New York Red Bulls in January 2019, Adams wasted little time in making his presence felt at Leipzig in the 2018/19 Rückrunde, making eight starts and 10 league appearances in total, providing two assists. It was no coincidence that the club's results improved with him in the side, but adductor muscle problems restricted his playing time. After regaining fitness, he was diagnosed with "acute chronic groin issues" that ruled him out of the US national team's Gold Cup squad over the summer.
What to expect in 2019/20: Adams is likely to miss large chunks of Leipzig's pre-season training, with the US Soccer Federation announcing in early June that he was expected to need six to eight weeks of recovery time. As a result he may not feature for Die Roten Bullen early in the new campaign, but new head coach Julian Nagelsmann is likely to give him all the time he needs to return to his best. After all, the revolutionary coach has a knack of improving already talented players and Adams' hard-running and versatility mean he can expect plenty of opportunities.
Watch: Adams settling in at Leipzig
Alphonso Davies
Age: 18
Club: Bayern Munich
Position: Winger
Bundesliga minutes so far: 74 (over 6 games)
The story so far: Another signing from across the Atlantic in the winter transfer period last season, Davies arrived with a glowing reputation following a series of top-class performances – and goals – for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS. He has been gently eased into Bundesliga life by Niko Kovac, who handed him his top-flight debut on Matchday 19 in a 4-1 win over VfB Stuttgart. Five other brief cameo appearances followed, including a maiden Bundesliga goal against Mainz.
What to expect in 2019/20: If Davies' path into the first team was somewhat blocked by wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery last term, the veteran duo's departure should provide the Canada international with more chances to strut his stuff out wide. "Bayern want to build me up, that I get my game time and that I get used to the league," he said recently. With his pace, trickery and devilish deliveries into the middle, Davies is poised for a much greater role from now on.
Watch: Davies delighted to be at Bayern
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Josh Sargent
Age: 19
Club: Werder Bremen
Position: Striker
Bundesliga minutes so far: 205 (over 10 games)
The story so far: Sargent's predatory gifts were recognised by Bremen several years ago, but it was not until early last year that he was able to join the club. Head coach Florian Kohfeldt promoted him to the first team in 2018/19 and the USA international scored less than 90 seconds into his Bundesliga debut on Matchday 14, sealing a 3-1 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf. The forward made another nine league outings, including one start, and found the net again in a 3-2 loss against RB Leipzig.
What to expect in 2019/20: Goals. Now that the powerfully built attacker has had a taste of life in the Bundesliga, he's only going to want more. Driven by ambition and a fierce work ethic, he'll be pushing for more regular appearances in the first team, especially after signing a contract extension in February this year and in the wake of Max Kruse's departure over the summer. With two goals in just 205 minutes of play so far, his scoring instinct is undeniable – a priceless commodity in any team.
Watch: Sargent starts Bundesliga adventure with a bang
Leonardo Balerdi
Age: 20
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Centre-back
Bundesliga minutes so far: 0
The story so far: Dortmund's scouting team obviously liked what little they saw of Balerdi, considering the youngster has played precious little first-team football to date. The Argentinian only made his debut for Boca Juniors in August 2018 and had featured in only five league games for the Buenos Aires giants by the time he joined BVB. A facial injury sustained almost immediately after signing ruled him out of action for several weeks, but Balerdi still made four appearances for the club's reserve side, scoring once.
What to expect in 2019/20: "He's a signing for the future," said Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc in January 2019. "It was originally planned for the summer but has now been brought forward. Leonardo is an intelligent central defender, who's strong in the tackle and in the air. His build-up play and passing are also good." With praise like that, Balerdi should make his Bundesliga debut this season, even if he does face stiff competition at centre-back from the likes of Manuel Akanji, Abdou Diallo, Ömer Toprak and Dan-Axel Zagadou.
Moussa Diaby
Age: 19
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Winger
Bundesliga minutes so far: 0
The story so far: The lightning-fast left-footer, who is equally comfortable on either flank, was in Poland this summer for the U20 World Cup, where he scored in France’s run to the last 16. He may have had to compete with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and former Schalke favourite Julian Draxler for a wide attacking berth at Paris Saint-Germain last season, but he still managed to rack up six assists and two goals in 25 league games.
What to expect in 2019/20: Julian Brandt's transfer to Borussia Dortmund has opened up a spot in Bayer Leverkusen's wide attacking positions, so Diaby will be vying with Leon Bailey and Karim Bellarabi for a place in the starting line-up. With Die Werkself set to play in three competitions after qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, Peter Bosz is likely to rotate, meaning the youngster should see plenty of action. "At Leverkusen we're known […] for putting our trust in players, regardless of their age, if they produce the required performances," said managing director Rudi Völler. "I'm sure Moussa will bring us lots of joy given his pace and technique."
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