Radical overhaul at Bayern: How transfers work under Eberl and Freund | OneFootball

Behind the scenes at FC Bayern, a tremendous amount has changed in recent months. Especially in the scouting department, sporting director Max Eberl has reorganized the structures—together with sporting director Christoph Freund and the new “head of scouting,” Nils Schmadtke. The 36-year-old is driving a radical overhaul at the record champions, which is not universally popular—but is already showing initial successes.

Bayern have placed their transfer work on a new foundation, as Sky reports: data-driven, internationally networked, and with clear responsibilities. The goal is to work more efficiently, make decisions earlier, and maintain a balance between expensive top transfers and the promotion of homegrown talent.

Since October 2024, Nils Schmadtke has been the new Head of Scouting at FC Bayern—brought in by Max Eberl, with whom he already had a close working relationship from their time together at Gladbach. Schmadtke reports directly to Christoph Freund but is responsible for the entire scouting structure—from youth to the professionals.

Under his leadership, campus scouting has been merged with first-team scouting. This means that talents and potential first-team candidates will now be centrally recorded and evaluated. Responsible for this are chief scouts Florian Zahn (campus) and Andre Hechelmann (first team), who work closely with Schmadtke.

The restructuring was consistent—and tough: around ten scouts had to leave the club, eight new ones were added. The new course is causing friction, but internally Schmadtke is praised for his professionalism and attention to detail. “He works extremely data-driven, but also travels a lot and values live scouting,” say club sources.

The fact that this approach is bearing fruit is evident in recent transfers such as Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof, which were strategically prepared over months. The transfer of Michael Olise was also closely accompanied by scouting under Schmadtke’s predecessor Markus Pilawa—an example of how long-term work can pay off.

How a Bayern transfer works today

Photo: IMAGO

By now, a transfer at FC Bayern follows a clear pattern. Schmadtke and his team scout potential new signings and compile extensive dossiers that include both sporting and character analyses. If a player is identified as a potential target, Schmadtke or Freund make the initial contact with agents or clubs.

Once a name is up for discussion, Eberl and Freund jointly decide whether to pursue the transfer further. After that, the supervisory board is informed—especially about the financial framework. If the board gives the green light, Eberl and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen take over direct negotiations.

As Sky reports, the supervisory board is said to be “impressed” by the new approach—especially by the detailed transfer analyses prepared by Schmadtke and his team.

Uli Hoeneß demands faster transfer decisions

Despite the positive development, there is still criticism—mainly from honorary president Uli Hoeneß. He publicly complained that some negotiations in the summer “dragged on too long.” Examples: the deals for Luis Díaz and Nicolas Jackson, which went on until just before deadline day.

Hoeneß demands that future transfer windows be concluded earlier. The goal must be for coach Vincent Kompany to start the season with a complete squad.

Bayern themselves now approach their transfer strategy in two ways: long-term prepared deals—like with Tah or Bischof—and short-term reactions—to injuries or market opportunities, as with Jackson or Antony (Real Betis).

Focus on talents remains central

Eberl and Freund emphasize that despite big names, the campus and the promotion of young players continue to play a central role. Young players such as Wisdom Mike, Cassiano Kiala, and especially Lennart Karl are to be given targeted playing time.

Karl in particular, who recently caused a stir with wonder goals against Bruges and Gladbach, is seen internally as proof that the new permeability is working. The balancing act between international transfer policy and the development of homegrown talent—that is the declared goal of Bayern’s new leadership.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.