Just before the hour mark in the match against Augsburg, with the familiar roar of 81,365 fans echoing through the stadium, 18‑year‑old defender Luca Reggiani found the net for Borussia Dortmund. The sheer elation on his face was unmistakable, and it resonated back at the club’s academy where academy director Paul Schaffran watched the moment on a screen. "Seeing our youngsters break into the first‑team gives everyone a boost of optimism," Schaffran told Sky Sports.
The conversation took place at the team’s hotel in Liverpool before a development‑team fixture, and it quickly became clear that Reggiani is part of a broader, deliberate shift in Dortmund’s approach to nurturing talent. Another 18‑year‑old Italian, Samuele Inacio, made his Bundesliga debut against Bayern Munich in February and has already proven he can handle the pressure.
"He’s shown he belongs at this level," Schaffran noted. Even younger, 16‑year‑old Mathis Albert stepped onto the pitch against Freiburg, while 17‑year‑old Mussa Kaba is on the brink of his own debut. "He’s been with us since he was eleven, and I have a very high opinion of his potential," Schaffran added.
These four players are not all home‑grown; three arrived from other clubs. "Our philosophy is to build players from the ground up, but we also need to complement that with external talent," Schaffran explained.
"The key is that the players understand there is a clear pathway here." Inacio came from Atalanta, while Reggiani joined from Sassuolo. Schaffran highlighted the difficulty for an 18‑year‑old centre‑back to break into senior football in Italy, where the average age for that position often exceeds 30.
Dortmund’s environment therefore offers a rare chance for rapid development. The notion of Dortmund as a "finishing school" for elite talent is not new.
Stars such as Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham have used the club as a springboard to global stardom. However, recent pressures to deliver results have forced the club to rethink its recruitment strategy for the senior squad, prompting a stronger reliance on youth.
Facing competition from other clubs and leagues, Dortmund decided to go even younger in the hunt for hidden gems. This decision placed a heavier burden on Schaffran’s staff to refine these prospects.
"The mindset at the academy has undergone a complete overhaul," Schaffran said. "We changed our vision and the way we develop players. In the past we were primarily focused on winning matches at every age level. Winning an under‑17 game means nothing if the player does not become a Bundesliga professional." The new philosophy flips the old model on its head.
"We now give our youngsters the toughest challenges possible at youth level, so that the transition to senior football becomes smoother," Schaffran explained. "It’s a massive shift in our thinking." According to the academy director, Dortmund now fields the youngest under‑17 and under‑19 squads in Germany, as well as the youngest side in the Premier League International Cup. Winning those tournaments is not the priority. "It’s intentional," he affirmed.
"We deliberately over‑challenge our players because constant, appropriate pressure forces them to adapt, grow, and ultimately reach a higher level of development." Schaffran emphasized that adaptation inevitably comes with a dip in immediate performance. "When a player is adjusting to a new level of intensity, you won’t see the same impact on the game, and the odds of winning at that age group go down. But the upside for long‑term development rises dramatically." A crucial tool in this revamped system is bio‑banding, which uses ultrasound scans to determine the true skeletal age of each academy player. This scientific approach allows Dortmund to place youngsters in groups that match their physical maturity rather than their chronological age.
Six years ago, the academy’s composition was heavily skewed: about 35 % of players were early developers, 60 % fell into the average range, and fewer than five percent were late developers. The data revealed a bias toward early‑maturing athletes, which did not necessarily correlate with talent. "The biggest lesson from bio‑banding wasn’t for the players; it was for our coaches and scouts," Schaffran said.
"It forced them to reassess how they evaluate prospects. They now look beyond who dominates a particular age group and consider long‑term potential." For example, a 14‑year‑old who is physically outmatched but possesses technical skill might have been dismissed under the old system, yet now receives the support needed to flourish.
Schaffran cited a specific case of a player who would have been rejected because he was slower than his peers. After allowing him to develop at his own pace, the academy now sees the possibility of that player reaching the highest level.
"We considered imposing quotas, but we chose education instead," Schaffran admitted. The result is a more balanced distribution: roughly 15 % early developers, 70 % average, and 15 % late developers.
Balancing individual growth with team performance can be challenging. When Inacio and Albert excelled with the under‑19s, they were promoted to the next level to keep their development trajectory steep.
Albert, in particular, has shown remarkable adaptability. He featured in Dortmund’s Club World Cup squad, represented the United States at the Under‑17 World Cup, and has oscillated between the under‑19 and under‑23 sides, gaining experience both domestically and abroad.
"He thrives in varied environments and consistently steps up," Schaffran noted. The academy’s emphasis on development over immediate results sometimes means losing key players at the youth level. "It’s hard on the team when our best talents move on," Schaffran confessed. "If we only cared about winning, we would keep them.
But that’s not how we judge the academy’s success." The alignment between the academy and the first‑team hierarchy has also improved. Former academy chief Rudi Ricken now makes strategic decisions for the senior squad, ensuring a clear pathway for academy graduates. Schaffran regularly attends first‑team squad planning meetings, discussing youth prospects directly with Ricken. "His involvement makes it easier for our youngsters to see a realistic route to the senior side," Schaffran said.
When Schaffran saw Reggiani’s jubilant celebration after the Augsburg goal, he recalled the young defender running back to the academy to share the moment with players aged 12 to 15. "Luca’s smile lit up the whole academy," Schaffran said with pride. Dortmund’s conveyor belt of talent, once again, is humming smoothly, driven by a philosophy that values long‑term growth, scientific insight, and relentless challenge.