Bayern Munich's playful rising star, Karl, emerges victorious in pre-season tournament
17-Year-Old Lennart Karl Eyes Senior Playing Time at Bayern Munich
Lennart Karl, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder and winger, has signed a professional contract extension with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. The young prodigy, who goes by the nickname "Karl," is now poised to make his mark in the senior team this season [1][2].
Born in Sweden, Karl is of Swedish origin, with the name meaning "strong lion" and "lion heart." He stands at 1.69 meters tall and sports a thin mustache and goatee. Karl joined Bayern's academy in the summer of 2022, following youth spells at Viktoria Aschaffenburg and Eintracht Frankfurt [2].
Last season, Karl shone for Bayern's U17 team, scoring 17 goals and providing 8 assists in just 9 appearances. His impressive form attracted interest from top European clubs like Real Madrid and Ajax [2]. In April 2025, he received his first senior team call-up and made his professional debut in June 2025 during the FIFA Club World Cup [2].
Bayern Munich board member Max Eberl has expressed the club’s goal to promote Karl continuously from their youth system into the first team, following the example of young stars like Jamal Musiala [1][3]. Karl is now in line to become a key home-grown player alongside established wingers such as Michael Olise, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, and Serge Gnabry [1][3].
Serge Gnabry, who is 30, is expected to start ahead of Karl due to seniority, but head coach Vincent Kompany may choose to give the youngster a chance [1][3]. Kompany has praised Karl's ability to always be dangerous in the final third [1][3].
Karl has already made an impact in pre-season friendlies, scoring against Tottenham and being chosen as the first backup for Michael Olise at FC Bayern [1][3]. He scored his first professional goal five days earlier in a test match against Tottenham, contributing to a 4:0 victory [1][3].
Karl is working hard to earn playing time against tougher opponents like Stuttgart in the Supercup. He is advised by former national player Michael Ballack and is aware of the high intensity of professional training. The response to overly arrogant young players in training will be felt, as it is the responsibility of captains like Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich to guide talents in the right direction [1][3].
Karl has extended his contract with FC Bayern until 2028, signifying his commitment to the club and his ambition to become a regular in the senior team [1][3]. Football fans are eagerly anticipating Karl's contributions, as they look forward to seeing new types of players with corners and edges stand out in the Bundesliga.
Lennart Karl's goal is to make a significant impact on Bayern Munich's senior team this season, following his impressive performances with the U17 team [1][2]. Despite the presence of experienced wingers like Michael Olise, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, and Serge Gnabry, coach Vincent Kompany might give Karl a chance due to his danger in the final third [1][3].
