DFL planning to introduce new under-21 league for the 2026/27 season | OneFootball

Sport Bild reports that the Deutsche Fußball League (DFL), is planning to introduce a new under-21 league from next season. 

The plan is to propose a new under-21 league for Bundesliga sides by March 3rd, for the clubs to then vote on the matter. This would be done in an attempt to revive the talent development programme, while it is also voluntary, and clubs have until June 15th to decide whether they wish to participate or not. 

The aim of the league is to give players from the under-19s more experience to help improve the transition from the youth leagues to senior football. 

Jürgen Klopp, who is a backer of this idea, has previously stated why he thinks Germany should introduce something similar to the Premier League 2. 

How the new DFL league will work:

The DFL league will be used to supplement reserve teams, not replace them, meaning the second teams that can be found in the 3.Liga as well as the Regionalligas will remain there. 

The new league will follow a similar format to the new Champions League swiss model, meaning they will play a minimum of six games, but can opt in to play more. While a format similar to South American football will also be adopted in terms of having two halves of the season, Apertura and Clausura. In May, a final four will then be held, containing the top two teams from each half of the season. 

Matches will not take place in front of spectators; however, the final four could allow fans, while games will only take place within a 250km radius to reduce travel costs, meaning teams could play one another at a neutral venue. 

Players under-21 as well as players recovering from injury will be allowed to play, with each team being allowed to register a maximum of four older players. The new DFL league will also allow registration a dat in advance. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan