A series of bitter setbacks continues: What’s next for Bayern prospect Buchmann? | OneFootball

Tarek Buchmann was long considered one of FC Bayern’s greatest defensive prospects. But the 21-year-old just can’t catch a break—his latest serious injury has set him back once again.

It was supposed to be a fresh start. Under new coach Dante, Buchmann had begun preseason training with the record champions’ reserve team. Then came yet another piece of bad news: The center back suffered a torn syndesmotic ligament and has already undergone surgery. He now faces months of rehabilitation.

It’s his eighth injury in just four years. Only about four months ago, Buchmann had celebrated his comeback after a long period of suffering—now the arduous road back starts all over again. No one at Säbener Straße doubts his quality. It is solely the injuries that keep sidelining the highly talented defender time and again.

From “Mini-Boateng” to a Chronic Patient

At age 14, Buchmann moved from Augsburg’s youth team to FC Bayern’s youth academy. In the 2022–23 season, the defender got his first taste of the first team. Hasan Salihamidzic, then sporting director, saw him as an integral part of the first-team roster, and during the winter training camp in Qatar, the youngster also impressed then-coach Julian Nagelsmann.

The 1.88-meter-tall defender stood out for his composure on the ball, aggressive tackling, and confident demeanor. Coaches and teammates at the training campus nicknamed him “Mini-Boateng” because his playing style resembled that of former World Cup champion Jerome Boateng. Throughout Germany, Buchmann was regarded as one of the most talented center backs in his age group.

A history of injuries with alarming regularity

But his breakthrough never materialized. As early as 2022, Buchmann suffered a torn lateral ligament. In September 2023, he suffered a torn muscle bundle in his thigh—his second such injury in just two months. Shortly before his comeback in November, he suffered a third injury during training. After surgery, he suffered a muscle tear in the same spot during rehab, leading to yet another operation. At one point, his career was even hanging by a thread.

Photo: IMAGO

On February 22, 2025, he made his comeback after 540 days of recovery—only to injure his left shoulder just a few days later in a Regionalliga match against Würzburg. This resulted in surgery and the end of his season. Last season, 1. FC Nürnberg loaned out the defender, but as early as the beginning of September, he was sidelined for months with a foot injury. He didn’t make his second-division debut for the Franconians until March 14, 2026, and in the end, he managed only two appearances.

Because the injuries just won’t stop, Buchmann has made only six appearances for Munich’s U23 team so far. During injury-free periods, he found his way back to the first team; in January and February 2025, he was named to the Champions League roster twice. However, he has yet to play a competitive match in a pro jersey. Following this latest setback, his long-awaited pro debut for FC Bayern has slipped even further into the distance.