Bayern’s CL squad surprise: top talent Lennart Karl left out

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·3 September 2025

Bayern’s CL squad surprise: top talent Lennart Karl left out

The new Champions League season 2025/26 is about to begin. FC Bayern has now announced its official squad for the league phase – with a surprising personnel decision. While 16-year-old Cassiano Kiala is included in the lineup for the first time, homegrown talent Lennart Karl is missing.

The German record champion will face renowned opponents in the Champions League. In the league phase, Vincent Kompany's team will compete against Chelsea, Paphos FC, Club Brugge, PSG, Arsenal, Sporting, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, and PSV Eindhoven. Eight games await the Munich team, who aim for direct entry into the knockout phase.

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To be prepared for this, Bayern has registered a 23-man squad with UEFA. As expected, all key players are included, but there is also a real surprise talent.

16-year-old Jewel Kiala Makes the Squad

Cassiano Kiala, just 16 years old, has made it into the Champions League squad. The defensive all-rounder is considered one of the biggest talents from Bayern's youth and has already been introduced to the professional team in recent months. His nomination underscores that Kompany trusts him to be used on the international stage if necessary.

Surprisingly, however, Lennart Karl is absent. The 18-year-old was frequently involved with the professional team during pre-season and was considered a hot candidate for the Champions League. However, his name does not appear in the final squad.

Thus, Bayern relies on a mix of international experience and young prospects. It is notable that Kiala, a player without much professional experience, was nominated while other young talents were left out.

However, through the so-called B-list, Munich can still register talents. For this, the players must have been trained at their own club or another German club for at least three years. Thus, Karl could still be registered for the Champions League during the season.

The nomination shows the challenge Vincent Kompany faces. The squad is not as deep as those of international competitors. It is all the more important to integrate young players. Kiala is likely to act as a backup initially but could gain valuable experience over the course of the season.