Find out the best soccer academies in Germany and learn how to attend trials or apply for any team in the country.
Before we go ahead, he would highlight the best academies in the country before other information would follow.
Joining a professional football club or an academy in Germany could be worked out if you go about it the right way.
Taking your career higher to a professional level is not completely easy if you do not work it out in the right direction.
You know you cannot walk into any club to declare your intentions of being part of them and expect positive feedback. This is because most clubs rely on recommendations from expert football scouts regionally and internationally.
Football in Germany is a lucrative sport where players can earn higher weekly or monthly.
The lucrative nature of the sport in the country has further pushed the need for young players in Germany and other countries to consider joining a professional club in the country.
Ranking the Best football Academies in Germany 2024/2025
1. FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich Academy is one of the talent development powerhouses in Germany. The club boasts of world-class facilities.
Bayern Munich has engaged in many talent development activities like the establishment of the Global Academy, camps, and the FC Bayern Munich Youth Cup.
2. Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund is often referred to as the main destination for young talents in the history of soccer in the country.
The Yellow Wall has been known for their unique talent discovery and scouting network, which sets the club apart from their European competitors.
3. Schalke 04
Schalke 04 is another top side when it comes to the development of young talents. The club is mainly an exporter of raw talents. Schalke is one of the biggest teams in German football.
4. Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Another German soccer academy having a good record over the years is the Leverkusen academy. Today, some of the key first-team players were drawn or academy graduates.
5. Hamburger SV
Without a doubt, Hamburger SV Academy is one of the best talent development teams in the country.
Hamburger SV's investment in youth development makes the club stand out internationally.
6. Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach cannot be overlooked when it comes to ranking the best academies in Germany.
The club has continued to fuel its first team with many talented academy graduates.
7. Soccer Academy Germany
This is one of the biggest soccer development schools in the country. They provide various programs across different age groups.
8. IFA Germany GmbH
9. ProSoc Academy
10. InterSocca International Soccer Academy
11. SC Borea Dresden
Note: Academies are “Ranked” in no particular order.
How to join a professional football club/academy in Germany
1. Age (Start young)
Football clubs of the 21st century are always on the lookout for young players because of the advantage it holds for them.
What I’m trying to point out is that age matters when it comes to a professional football club.
Young players are capable of adapting to the system, philosophy, as well as style of play adopted by the club for the various teams it owns.
Another aspect is that clubs tend to offer you long-term contracts and would be willing to invest heavily in you.
These are some of the reasons clubs do consider the age of players. If you must achieve professional football fast, your best bet should be to bank on football early.
According to stats, the 2019/2020 German Bundesliga season featured more young players across the 18 teams that participated.
For already established professional players within the age range of 25 and upwards, your chances of getting to play for a professional club without having a previous club would be to have a football agent.
Your agent would be in charge of negotiation with clubs and making recommendations.
2. Search for Youth Sports Programs in Germany
In Germany, there are numerous sports development programs organised by either the government or private organisations across the country.
If you reside in places with little or no sporting activities, you might as well consider moving out to other areas to increase your level of exposure.
Places with high football activities include Munich, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, etc.
Top regions like Bayern, Hamburg, Saxony, Westfalen, and Bremen are significant hubs for youth sports programs in Germany.
Some of the top youth programs in these areas include the FC Bayern Munich Youth Cup organised by Bayern Munich.
Sports Programs allow you to show your talent and possibly enter the list of players that would be scouted and considered for a top club.
Also, note that some youth sports programs could be offered on a payment basis. Alternatively, you could enrol in sports programs organised or sponsored by regional bodies.
3. Look for a football agent in Germany
Dealing with a professional football club requires the presence of a football agent. Look for a professional football agent in Germany with well-established links with professional football clubs.
You would sign an agreement with the agent, who will, in turn, search for clubs on your behalf and make recommendations when necessary.
Well-established and trusted agents would accelerate your chances of getting invited by a club looking for players. As a football agent, he would be the first to be contacted by professional or even semi-professional clubs looking for players.
The most crucial reason clubs may not consider you if you approach them all by yourself is because there’s little or no idea of you, including your history or career stats that are more of importance.
These are reasons clubs would always consider dealing with agents instead of direct approaches or applications from interested players. In the case of teenagers, they may be redirected to the club’s Academy.
However, you should have in mind the issues of fake agents. Before proceeding, try to carry out background checks on the agent to remain on the safe side.
Another aspect of agents is all about the expenses. Agents could charge you higher, and there’s no way you can afford this when there’s little or no direct income or funding for your career pursuit.
4. Join a local team in Germany
Local teams are one of the best places to begin your career. This is because you could join a local team without heavy expenses, and local groups with links to professional clubs would always have scouting events for players.
As a local team member, you could travel for regional and national competitions. Some of these competitions attract scouts from top clubs.
What would cause scouts to be attracted to you or even consider you as an option is your ability to convince them throughout the competition.
On your part, you should play to your strengths to increase your chances of getting picked by a scout. Scouts are always looking for areas to add value to their current team.
Some of the areas scouts are always watching include your stamina, final balls, control, and overall individual brilliance. If you can satisfy some of these, you are good.
5. Attach yourself to any scouting network
Scouting networks are groups of scouts who discover young talents from the grassroots and link them to professional clubs.
6. Visit the club’s training ground
Another way to get started is by visiting teams during training hours. Clubs in the 3. Liga and Regionalliga. Visit some of the teams in the division during training hours and establish contact with some of the handlers, like trainers, coaches, or coordinators.
7. Attend open day trials in German cities
Open day trials are the most accessible means of getting a contract with clubs in Germany. At open day trials, scouts from various teams in the country would be on the ground to monitor and select the best players.
8. Enrol in football camps
Football camps are also promising avenues to find scouts looking for players for the teams they represent. In Germany, there are many football holiday camps you can select and participate in.
Most of these camps are affiliated with already established professional clubs in the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, and 3. Liga.
Although the most popular holiday camps are a bit expensive, you could still go for the least expensive ones.
Football training camps would give you an edge when it comes to new ideas and concepts and increase your level of exposure to the round leather game.
9. Consider clubs in the lower divisions
Lower division clubs are also the best places to begin your professional career in Germany. This is because of the attention it receives across the country.
Also, top Bundesliga clubs are always scouting for players in the lower divisions. If you watch closely, Bundesliga clubs prioritise homegrown players more than foreigners.
Most Bundesliga clubs prefer young talents in the country more than some already established professional players outside the country.
Starting in the lower leagues, even as a foreigner, is much better and increases your chances of getting scouted by big teams. The top club scouts for players within Germany more than players in foreign leagues.
You are talking about lower leagues; the 3. Liga and the Regionalliga are the perfect places to kickstart your career.
10. Join an Academy
The next stop destination is a football academy in Germany. All clubs in the Bundesliga to the 2. Bundesliga do have a youth development academy.
Try to enrol in an academy to increase your chances of getting a professional contract.
Football academies were established as a pathway for young player development by teaching young players various aspects of the game on and off the pitch.
11. Establish contact with insiders
If you want to stay informed of the latest concerning trials, recruitment, and scouting activities, you should contact insiders.
Try your best to establish good contact with insiders so you would be notified whenever there’s information or an update from the club regarding players recruitment, trials, etc.
12. Social Media
Never underestimate the power of social media when it comes to our everyday life. These days, almost every club has an active social media handle where club activities are posted for the public.
Be on the alert for new information regarding the club’s youth development system. You should follow the social media handles of the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, and 3. Liga Youth teams or Academy to stay updated regarding programs, recruitment, and others.
Social media is an essential tool, and you should make good use of it.
14. Emails or Postcards
Every day, clubs in Germany receive tonnes and tonnes of emails and postcards from young players and parents within and outside the country.
These requests are often ignored for reasons best known to the club representatives. However, some emails do receive feedback from them.
Final words
Football in Germany is one of the most popular and lucrative sports. If you wish to join a professional football club in the country, you need to apply for an academy camp.