Jonathan Meier: Who is the Bayern Munich youngster bound for Mainz?
Jonathan Meier has been rewarded for his part in the Bayern Munich reserve team's promotion to Germany's third tier with a move to Bundesliga club Mainz.
bundesliga.com profiles the teenaged left-back...
Jonathan Meier
Age: 19
Club: Mainz
Position: Left-back
Country: Germany (uncapped at all levels)
Joining Bayern from 1860 Munich at the tender age of 12, Meier has powered through the youth ranks. The 5'10" defender made a name for himself with the Bayern U17s and U19s, and was handed his debut for the reserve team in the Regionalliga - Germany's fourth tier - at the start of 2018/19. He featured at centre-back, on the left-hand side of midfield, in attacking midfield and in his preferred position on the left-hand side of the defence before suffering a season-ending thigh injury in February.
The left-footed Meier, who represented Bayern's U19s in UEFA competition during the first half of 2018/19, also made it onto the first-team bench for Bundesliga games against Hertha Berlin, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and was an unused substitute for the 5-1 win over Benfica in the Champions League group stage in November. All told, the Munich native made 63 appearances for the Bavarian giants' various youth teams, producing three goals and as many assists.
Plays a bit like: David Alaba
Meier is a defender by trade, but it's his offensive qualities that have caught the eye. He loves to have the ball at his feet and run behind opposition players into the final third, where his cultured left foot and eye for a pass really come to the fore. He's got pace, too, and is very much cut from the same cloth as Bayern's model left-back, David Alaba.
Did you know?
Meier made his senior debut against Paris Saint-Germain during Bayern's summer 2018 US tour, replacing Arjen Robben in the second half of 3-1 win. He also lined up against Italian giants Juventus and started the Reds' final International Champions Cup match against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
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What they're saying
"Jonathan Meier was able to receive exceptional training during his time in the youth academies at both 1860 Munich and Bayern. He is a fast and dynamic player; the epitome of the modern left-back." - Mainz sporting director Rouven Schröder
"I'm excited to come to Mainz, and will work hard in order to reach my goal of playing in the Bundesliga." - Meier
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