SV Darmstadt 98 is focusing on an additional U21 competition to promote young talent
SV Darmstadt 98 will participate in the new "Bundesliga Talent Series" starting in the 2026/27 season. A total of 26 clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga have committed to participating in this additional youth competition. The aim of the format is to offer young players more opportunities to play at a high level and to facilitate their transition to professional football.
Additional playing time for young talents
Lilien sporting director Paul Fernie sees the competition as an important building block for the development of young talent.
“We decided to participate in the Bundesliga Talent Series because the competition's concept incorporates many elements that are important for targeted youth development. Crucially, it's an additional U21 competition, so there's no risk of it becoming an extension of academy football, as would have been possible with a purely U21 league,” Fernie explains.
The competition is intended to provide young talents with additional playing experience. At the same time, it gives players returning from extended injury breaks the chance to regain match rhythm under competitive conditions.
Flexible competition format
The Bundesliga Talent Series is designed as a voluntary, supplementary program and complements the existing league system. Participating clubs draw upon their existing squads in the transitional phase between youth and professional football. In addition, each team is permitted to field up to four older players.
Fernie praises the development of the new competition: "We see this competition as an opportunity to regularly give young players additional playing time at a good level. A compliment goes to the expert group, which found very good solutions to the many open questions initially and developed a very flexible format."
Venue still to be determined
The Bundesliga Talent Series matches will initially be played behind closed doors. This is intended to minimize the organizational and financial burden on the participating clubs.
SV Darmstadt 98 is currently still in the voting process regarding a suitable venue for home games in the new competition.
(DARMSTADT – RED/SV98)
