The historic fixtures, electric atmospheres, and competitive matchups are the main attractions of the 2024/25 Zweite Bundesliga season. However, another significant draw is the chance to witness some of Europe's most promising young talents showcase their skills.

The Zweite Bundesliga is globally recognized as a launching pad for young players making their first steps in senior football. Last season, for instance, saw 19-year-old Jonas Urbig excel between the goalposts for Greuther Fürth, while teenage sensation Nicolo Tresoldi went from obscurity to being a Premier League target. My rising talent list from last season highlighted these, and many more of the biggest prodigies who were flying under the media radar at the time.

Today, I aim to replicate that success with an in-depth analysis of the next wave of rising stars. Here are 10 U23 talents you need to watch in the upcoming campaign.

Ibrahim Maza 

While he made his senior breakthrough last season, it is not far-fetched to assume that Ibrahim Maza could become a major talisman in Hertha BSC’s fight for promotion this season. The German youth international possesses exceptional technique and creative talents. His first touch is pristine and purposeful, and he excels at combining with intricate passes around the opposition penalty area or weaving his way through a forest of physical defenders.

Maza is clearly at his best in a playmaking role with the ball at his feet, but he is not one-dimensional in his approach. He keenly provides a dynamic off-ball threat with incisive runs beyond the backline or well-timed inversions into the center of the pitch. This multi-dimensional quality makes Maza an impressive prospect across numerous positions. As an inverting winger or roaming attacking playmaker, he can dictate creative passages, and if he can add more physical and mental toughness, he will also pose a threat as a tempo-dominating central midfielder.

Fortunately for Maza, he not only has the technical profile to dominate this division, but he also has a coach with a proven track record of getting the best out of young talents and eccentric creatives. It wasn’t necessarily Cristian Fiel’s 12th place finish with 1. FC Nuremberg that landed him the job in Berlin, but rather his impressive ability to integrate young prospects. Finn Jeltsch (17), Jens Castrop, and Nathaniel Brown (20) all became key players last season, while Can Uzun (18) was among the biggest stars in the entire league.

Maza will need to go some way to replicate Uzun’s 16 goals and 2 assists last season, but the parallels between the two 2005-born midfielders are clear as day.

Stefanos Tzimas

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that 1. FC Nürnberg have managed to loan out the most talented prospect in Greek football - Stefanos Tzimas. The 18-year-old striker pairs an extraordinary physique and stature with superb mobility, pace, and power. Tzimas epitomizes the modern target man, expertly combining penetrative off-ball movement with a robust ability to hold up possession. Though blessed with an exceptional ball-striking technique, Tzimas rarely needs to unleash a powerful finish, as his clever penalty box movement often provides him with easy poacher finishes akin to those of a seasoned veteran.

This extreme maturity has also earned him important first-team minutes at parent-club PAOK Thessaloniki. As a 17-year-old, Tzimas made his debut for PAOK's first team, and last season, he added three goals in 21 appearances. While not an elite goal output at first glance, breaking down his performance on a per-minute basis reveals his impact. In just 518 minutes, Tzimas has scored five goals, averaging a goal every 104 minutes for one of the biggest clubs in Greek football.

There are ample reasons for optimism, but Tzimas does still have areas to improve. Most notably, the precision of his passing and his play in tight spaces need to improve to unleash his full potential. 

However, PAOK can rest assured that he is in good hands next season under the guidance of the legendary Miroslav Klose at 1. FC Nürnberg. While Klose has had a rocky start to his managerial career, his qualities as an elite, World Cup winning, number nine will undoubtedly benefit Tzimas' development on and off the field.

The 2023/24 10 Talents to Watch

Taylan Bulut

Schalke 04 may have fallen on tough times at the senior level, but the quality that the youth academy continues to produce is keeping this historic German club afloat. ‘Die Knappenschmiede’ - as Schalke’s youth academy is colloquially called in Germany - has produced the likes of Leroy Sané, Julian Draxler, Joël Matip, and Malic Thiaw to name just a few.

Even last season, when Schalke languished in a second-tier relegation battle for the first time in their history, two bright academy products in Keke Topp (2005) and Assan Ouédraogo still offered a glimmer of hope amidst such dire circumstances. Both Topp and Ouédraogo have moved on this summer for opportunities in the topflight, but the next crop of talents have already made an impact in pre-season.

Amongst this rising generation, few stand-out more than Taylan Bulut (2006). The 18-year-old is mature beyond his years, performing on the pitch with a level of seniority that immediately rubs off on any passive onlooker. Bulut has a well-rounded technical profile that allows him to competently cover all defensive positions and holding midfield, but it is clear that his best football is played at rightback. There, Bulut combines a rigorous work-rate with superb defensive positioning, excellent reading of the game, and a very refined technical arsenal. He may not be the fastest or most explosive fullback, but he picks his battles wisely and has the game intelligence to compensate for any natural deficiencies. 

Oscar Vilhelmsson

Positives were scarce in an otherwise disappointing top-flight campaign for SV Darmstadt. Die Lilien finished dead last with only 17 points and a goal difference of -56. However, amid this challenging season, one Oscar Vilhelmsson emerged as a bright spot. The 20-year-old initially struggled with the physicality and pace of top-flight football but he gradually developed into one of Darmstadt’s most promising prospects. Standing at 1.88 meters, Vilhelmsson boasts an excellent frame for a center-forward. Yet, he is far more than a mere aerial target for Darmstadt’s onslaught of long range passes.

Vilhelmsson is highly mobile and nimble with the ball at his feet. He possesses the technique to link play on the ground, is an instinctive finisher who seizes opportunities in front of goal, and continues to impress with his work-rate against the ball improving game-for-game. 

While his four Bundesliga goals last season may not immediately attract the attention of top-flight clubs, his impressive record in the Swedish youth national teams underscores why Darmstadt invested over €1 million in the IFK Göteborg talent in 2022. 

In just 328 minutes for the Swedish U21 team, Vilhelmsson has scored six times, averaging a goal every 55 minutes. Although this small sample size isn’t a perfect substitute for senior Bundesliga minutes, it highlights the potential Vilhelmsson has when supported by a team with a more cohesive approach to possession.

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Aaron Keller

German youth international Maurice Krattenmacher’s loan move to SSV Ulm has generated significant attention early in the transfer window. A creative midfielder from FC Bayern joining a newly-promoted second-tier team draws immediate parallels to Paul Wanner’s successful spell at SV Elversberg last season.

However, what truly captivates my interest at SSV Ulm is Aaron Keller, a former teammate of Krattenmacher’s at SpVgg Unterhaching. The 20-year-old Swiss youth international is an exceptionally flamboyant winger endowed with extraordinary skill and trickery. His prowess in 1v1 duels is remarkable. Keller employs superb body feints and ball manipulations to bewilder opposing fullbacks, and his tempo manipulations in possession allow him to seamlessly tease an opponent into committing to a challenge before accelerating away..

The primary concern throughout much of last season was Keller’s inability to translate his undeniable potential into tangible output. However, this aspect of his game improved as the campaign progressed and he gained more senior exposure. While Keller recorded just 2 goals and 1 assist in the 20 matches before the Christmas break, he amassed an impressive 7 goals and 3 assists in the 17 3. Liga fixtures in 2024. To ensure a smooth transition to the more demanding 2. Bundesliga, Keller must continue to deliver in front of goal, while also developing a more robust physical frame.

Finn Jeltsch

Stefanos Tzimas will lead the attack for Miroslav Klose’s team, but anchoring the defense is arguably an even more promising homegrown talent: 18-year-old Finn Jeltsch. Amidst the standout players of Germany’s golden 2006 generation, few are held in higher regard than the all-encompassing defender.

The center-back was a key figure in Germany’s U17 EURO and World Cup victories, impressing scouts worldwide with his physical presence, defensive skills, and exceptional ball-carrying ability. Perhaps even more remarkable than his youth successes is Jeltsch’s smooth transition to senior football. No other U17 World Cup winner has accumulated more senior minutes than Jeltsch, with the teenager playing every minute of Nürnberg’s final 12 league matches last season.

With the experienced Robin Knoche joining ‘Der Klub’ as a free agent, Jeltsch will encounter stiff competition this season. Nevertheless, the young defender undoubtedly possesses the talent to secure a starting spot in Miroslav Klose’s lineup and is poised for a future at the very highest level of the game.

Ilyas Ansah

SC Paderborn is one of the most intriguing teams for those seeking under-valued talents in German football. The West-German club boasts 13 U23 players in their first-team roster this season and has a track record of developing top talents like Chris Führich, Alexander Nübel, and Diego Demme.

The next talent likely to join this esteemed list is 19-year-old academy graduate Ilyas Ansah. The German-Ghanaian forward immediately stands out with his commanding physical presence. At 1.94m, Ansah towers over his opponents, but at the same time, he remains remarkably nimble and agile. This allows him to comfortably operate as a wide forward or central striker in Lukas Kwasniok’s preferred 3-4-3 formation. His mobility sets him apart in German football, enabling him to hold up possession with his physical frame while also manipulating the ball in tight spaces and carrying play with tempo and efficiency. This multifaceted impact has earned Ansah the nickname ‘Octopus’ from Kwasniok; large and imposing in stature, yet mobile and agile.

While Ansah possesses the technical and physical qualities to impress at this level, his lack of consistency and scoring impact prevents him from shining in the 2. Bundesliga on a weekly basis. Last season, he managed just one goal in 1,200 minutes of play. For every stellar performance against Fortuna Düsseldorf and SV Elversberg, there were also calamitous outings against Holstein Kiel and FC Magdeburg. Enhancing his efficiency in front of goal and maintaining a consistent impact will be crucial for the unpolished German U20 international to take the next step this season.

Yannik Engelhardt

The aftermath of Fortuna Düsseldorf’s baffling failed promotion last season has left manager Daniel Thioune with the daunting task of reshaping a fractured squad into title contenders. The all-dominant Christos Tzolis, who scored 22 goals and provided 7 assists last season, has left for Champions League football with Club Brugge. Meanwhile, the future of Japanese international Ao Tanaka remains uncertain as the new season begins.

Despite the gloom hanging over the Merkur Spiel-Arena, there are still reasons for optimism. A key factor is the permanent signing of Yannik Engelhardt following his highly successful loan spell last season.

Engelhardt, a tempo-setting midfielder with immense stamina and on-ball proficiency, was indispensable for Thioune last season, logging the most minutes of any outfield player in the Fortuna squad. Though not a physical enforcer, Engelhardt excels as a deep-lying playmaker in Thioune’s possession-based style. He constantly seeks to receive the ball, has excellent awareness to turn and advance play, and displays immediate gegenpressing instincts to intercept loose balls or apply pressure to force hurried passes from opponents.

At 23, the product of Werder Bremen and SC Freiburg’s youth systems is the oldest player on this list, but if there is anyone who has already proven his ability to compete at a Bundesliga level, it is Yannik Engelhardt.

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Felix Gebhardt

Jahn Regensburg is quickly establishing a reputation for developing top young goalkeepers. In 2023, Jonas Urbig took his first steps in senior football with the Bavarian club.  Die Jahnelf were relegated at the end of the season, but Urbig showed his extraordinary talents with countless top performances showing why many consider him to be the long-term heir to Manuel Neuer in the German national team. 

This season, Urbig returns to the second Bundesliga with his parent club, FC Köln. Meanwhile, Regensburg have found their next promising goalkeeping talent in Felix Gebhardt. Although Gebhardt was born in Germany, he spent most of his youth career in Switzerland with FC Basel. While he was a regular starter in his youth, first-team opportunities were limited, prompting his return to Germany in 2022 to gain valuable senior experience.

In the 2022/23 season, Gebhardt played a crucial role in helping Hallescher FC avoid relegation to the German 4th-tier, keeping 10 clean sheets and drawing the interest of Regensburg. At Regensburg, Gebhardt was once again instrumental in his side’s successful campaign. The youngster conceded only 28 goals in the 30 matches he played. In contrast, Regensburg conceded 14 goals in the eight matches he missed due to a meniscus injury!

Gebhardt’s elite shot-stopping ability will once again be vital for Regensburg as they navigate the challenges of the 2. Bundesliga. However, his skills in possession are also worth mentioning. The 22-year-old frequently delivers precise, floated passes to fullbacks and wingers, effectively breaking opposition presses and providing Regensburg with a direct route out of pressure.

Gebhardt will probably never reach the level of former Regensburg keeper Urbig, but fans at the Jahnstadion can nevertheless take comfort in knowing their goalkeeping is once again in capable hands this season.

Elias Bakatukanda

Newly relegated and facing a transfer ban, the upcoming season promises to be challenging for the historic FC Köln. Key performers have departed for more lucrative opportunities, leaving the newly-appointed Gerhard Struber the task of navigating the season with a youthful and largely inexperienced roster.

However, it's not all doom and gloom. FC Köln's internationally renowned youth academy is poised to step into the spotlight. Two years ago, the club’s 2004 generation won the German Cup and narrowly missed out on the league championship. Now, many from that squad are ready to play significant roles in the first team this season.

Golden Boy candidate Max Finkgräfe is arguably Köln’s biggest asset. Dynamic and goal-oriented winger Damion Downs is expected to secure a starting role, and former under-19 captain Meiko Wäschenbach could become a key creative force in central midfield. However, my standout pick is the largely unheralded Elias Bakatukanda.

Standing at 1.93m, Bakatukanda is a towering center-back known for his aerial presence and physical dominance. In his debut season in senior football, he excelled in the Regionalliga West (Germany's regional fourth tier), commanding the FC Köln U23 backline with impressive 1v1 defending and excellent top speed.

Although not without his faults—a last-man red card against champions Alemannia Aachen and a lapse against Wuppertaler SV—the experience has matured the young defender. With Julian Chabot's departure and Luca Kilian still recovering from an ACL injury, a position in defense is available that Bakatukanda is well-positioned to claim.