Top 10 Rising Stars in the Bundesliga for the 2021 - 2022 Season

Karim-David Adeyemi, born on January 18, 2002, is a professional German footballer who currently plays as a forward for Borussia Dortmund and the German national team. On May 10, 2022, it was confirmed that Adeyemi had signed with Borussia Dortmund on a contract that would last until the summer of 2027. A young international for Germany, Adeyemi has represented his country at U16, U17, and U21 levels. He made his debut for the senior national team during a 6-0 win against Armenia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier on September 5, 2021.

Adeyemi emerged as a star at Salzburg after Erling Haaland's departure in 2020. Interestingly, the 2002-born forward is now stepping into Haaland’s shoes at Signal Iduna Park. However, Adeyemi is quick to emphasize that he does not wish to be compared to Haaland. He shared with Bundesliga’s official site, "It’s similar to what happened in Salzburg. It’s a coincidence that I’m once again replacing Haaland at Dortmund, but I am a different type of striker. You can’t compare us like that."

Having won three Austrian championships, Adeyemi was calm about his move to Dortmund. In the 2021-2022 season, he scored 23 goals and provided 8 assists in 42 appearances for Salzburg. Among his standout performances, he netted 3 goals in 8 Champions League matches, helping the Austrian club reach the Round of 16. Thanks to his impressive form at Salzburg, Adeyemi earned 3 caps for Germany and was part of the U21 team that won the UEFA European Championship. The young talent is confident that there is still much room for him to grow.

Giovanni Alejandro Reyna, born November 13, 2002, is an American footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and the United States national team. Reyna joined the youth academy of his hometown club, New York City FC, in 2015. He spent several years developing in the City FC academy before moving to Germany in 2019 to join Borussia Dortmund's academy.

Watching Giovanni Reyna, the son of legendary Claudio Reyna, you might be surprised to learn he is only 18 years old. Mature, composed, and intelligent beyond his years, Reyna has made an impressive mark, scoring 4 goals and providing 5 assists in 32 matches. Despite this solid start, he is eager for more. His outstanding performances at Borussia Dortmund have earned him recognition as one of the brightest future talents in American football.

If you believe that football talent can be inherited, then Reyna is a perfect example. He is the second son of the legendary U.S. footballer Claudio Reyna. An interesting fact that not everyone knows is that Giovanni was named after Claudio's former Rangers teammate, Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Standing tall and possessing a strong physique at just 18, this young talent is on a path to prove his abilities. His journey started at just 13 years old, when New York City FC spotted him and brought him into their training program.

Youssoufa Moukoko, born November 20, 2004, is a German footballer who currently plays as a forward for Borussia Dortmund. Known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, Moukoko was born and raised in Cameroon but represents Germany at youth levels. Dortmund is fortunate to have such a promising young talent in their ranks, one who has the potential to make a lasting impact on world football.

After breaking numerous youth-level records at Signal Iduna Park, Youssoufa Moukoko became the youngest player ever to compete in the UEFA Champions League. His early achievements have caught the attention of football fans across Europe. In addition to his Champions League milestone, Moukoko has set several other goal-scoring records in the Bundesliga.

Notably, the young German forward surpassed Florian Wirtz’s record to become the youngest player to score in the Bundesliga. Moukoko has established himself as a record-breaker, and it’s no surprise that Borussia Dortmund has high hopes for the prodigious talent. Even Erling Haaland has praised his younger teammate, admitting that at Moukoko’s age, he wasn’t yet well-known in the football world.

Ansgar Knauff, born January 10, 2002, is a German footballer who plays as a right winger for Eintracht Frankfurt, currently on loan from Borussia Dortmund. Knauff signed his first professional contract with Dortmund on November 25, 2020, which runs through 2023.

He made his first-team debut on December 8, coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute for Thorgan Hazard during the UEFA Champions League 2020-2021 match against Zenit Saint Petersburg, which ended in a 2-1 win for Dortmund. On March 20, 2021, he made his Bundesliga debut, coming on for Thomas Meunier in the 80th minute and providing an assist for a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Köln. Knauff scored his first Bundesliga goal on April 10 in a 3-2 victory over VfB Stuttgart.

On January 20, 2022, Knauff joined Eintracht Frankfurt on an 18-month loan. Sebastian Kehl, Dortmund’s sporting director, explained the move by stating, “He approached us expressing his desire to gain more playing time on loan. We wanted to give him the chance to continue his development at a high level.” Knauff scored his first goal for Frankfurt on March 5, in a 4-1 win against Hertha BSC.

Malik Leon Tillman, born May 28, 2002, is an attacking midfielder currently playing for Scottish club Rangers, on loan from Bayern Munich. Though born in Germany, he represents the United States on the international stage. Tillman was promoted to Bayern Munich's senior team during the first round of the 2021-22 DFB-Pokal against Bremer SV on August 25, 2021, where he came on as a substitute at halftime and scored a goal in the 12-0 victory.

He made his Champions League debut on December 8, 2021, coming on in the second half during a match against FC Barcelona. On July 15, 2022, Tillman moved to Rangers on a season-long loan, with the club having an exclusive option to buy him. Initially, Tillman was eligible to play for both Germany, his country of birth, and the United States through his father. He has represented the U.S. at the U-15 level and Germany at U-21.

This young talent began to draw attention when he shifted his position from midfielder to forward. Recently, Malik signed a new three-year contract with Bayern Munich, which highlights the club's commitment to his potential. If he continues to develop, there’s a good chance he could earn a starting spot with the team. Last August, Tillman made a memorable senior debut for Bayern, scoring in their dominant 12-0 win over Bremer in the DFB-Pokal.

Tanguy Nianzou, born June 7, 2002, is a French professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.

On July 1, 2020, Bayern Munich announced the signing of Nianzou on a four-year deal. He made his debut in a 3-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart on November 28. Unfortunately, just weeks later, he suffered a muscle injury on December 12, sidelining him for one to two months, a recurrence of an earlier injury sustained at the start of the 2020-21 season. His return was delayed more than expected, with Nianzou coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin on April 10, 2021.

Although born in France, Nianzou has roots in Ivory Coast through his father. He is a rising star in the French national team, having played a significant role in France's U-17 squad that reached the semifinals of the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He was also an integral part of the French team that finished third at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, starting all seven of France's matches and scoring an equalizer in their 6-1 win over Spain.

Ryan Jiro Gravenberch, born May 16, 2002, is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bayern Munich and the Netherlands national team. On June 13, 2022, Gravenberch signed a five-year contract with Bayern Munich, with reports suggesting an €18 million transfer fee paid to Ajax. Gravenberch began his international career with the Netherlands U19 team, making his debut in a friendly match against England U19 on September 5, 2018, at just 16 years old, in which the Netherlands lost 4-1.

He was called up to the senior Netherlands squad in November 2020, making his debut on March 24, 2021, in a World Cup qualifier against Turkey. On June 6, 2021, Gravenberch scored his first goal for the national team in a 3-0 victory over Georgia in a friendly match.

Gravenberch is set to fill the gap left by Corentin Tolisso, whose contract expired over the summer. However, with competition from established stars like Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, the young talent will need to work hard to secure a starting spot. As Bayern competes in three major competitions, Gravenberch will have plenty of opportunities to prove himself. With his immense potential and ideal age, this transfer is seen as a great move for Bayern Munich.

Erling Braut Haaland, born July 21, 2000, is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester City and the Norway national team. Haaland began his career at Bryne FK in 2016, before moving to Molde. After two seasons with Molde, he signed with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in January 2019. At Salzburg, he won two Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup. Haaland made history in the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League, becoming the youngest player to score in five consecutive matches. In December 2019, he completed a €20 million transfer to Borussia Dortmund.

Haaland was also awarded the Golden Boy award in 2020. During the 2020-21 season, he helped Dortmund win the DFB-Pokal and was named Bundesliga Player of the Year, while also claiming the Champions League top scorer title. After the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Haaland set a new record, scoring 9 goals in a single match, earning him the Golden Boot.

Haaland's talent is undeniable. Recently named Bundesliga Player of the Year for 2020-21, his continued success is no surprise. In the last season, Haaland netted 27 goals in 28 games, with 6 assists. Notably, he became famous for his penchant for scoring braces, having scored 16 doubles in the previous season, which led to his nickname “Haaland the Double King.”

Jude Victor William Bellingham, born June 29, 2003, is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Borussia Dortmund and the England national team. Regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the world, Bellingham began his career at Birmingham City at just 8 years old, becoming the youngest player to ever feature for their senior team. In July 2020, he moved to Borussia Dortmund, and in his debut match, he became their youngest ever goal scorer.

Having represented England at various youth levels, including U15, U16, U17, and U21, Bellingham made his senior debut for the national team in November 2020 and was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2020.

At just 17 years old, Bellingham joined the Bundesliga from Championship football, a high-profile move that came with immense pressure. However, he rose to the occasion and quickly became a standout performer, earning the trust of Dortmund fans. In the 2021-22 season, he played a pivotal role in midfield, appearing in 29 of 34 Bundesliga matches and all 10 Champions League games. When Dortmund faced Manchester City, manager Pep Guardiola was left in awe, remarking, “I didn’t expect a 17-year-old to play that well.”

Jamal Musiala, born February 26, 2003, is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. Raised in England by a British-Nigerian father and a German mother, Musiala initially represented England at U15 and U16 levels before committing to play for Germany in February 2022.

At just 18 years old, Musiala has quickly cemented his place in both Bayern Munich's squad and the German national team, earning praise for his exceptional dribbling and passing skills. Although not particularly physically imposing, his agility and technical abilities allow him to seamlessly connect with teammates, making him an invaluable asset to his club.

Despite the fierce competition in Bayern's midfield, Musiala has proven himself as a key figure. In the previous season, he became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to score 6 goals in a season. His impressive form led to an early call-up to the Germany national team, and he secured a spot in the squad for EURO 2020.