Just before the hour mark in the match against Augsburg, with the familiar roar of 81,365 fans filling the stadium, 18‑year‑old defender Luca Reggiani found the back of the net for Borussia Dortmund. The sheer delight on the youngster’s face echoed back to academy director Paul Schaffran, who was watching from the training ground. "When our youngsters break into the first team, it gives everyone a surge of optimism," Schaffran told Sky Sports. As the academy chief, he explained that Reggiani’s breakthrough is part of a broader shift at the club.
Another 18‑year‑old Italian, Samuele Inacio, made his Bundesliga debut against Bayern Munich in February, and the club’s officials were quick to praise his readiness. Even younger, 16‑year‑old Mathis Albert earned his first senior appearance against Freiburg last Sunday, while 17‑year‑old Mussa Kaba is on the cusp of a debut. "Mussa has been with us since he was eleven, and I hold him in very high regard," Schaffran said.
The three teenagers mentioned above were not home‑grown; they arrived from other clubs. "Our philosophy is to build players from the ground up, but we also need external talent to complement that," he added. Dortmund’s promise to young players is clear: there is a defined pathway to the senior squad.
Inacio arrived from Atalanta and Reggiani from Sassuolo. Schaffran pointed out that in Italy the average centre‑back is often over 30, making it extremely difficult for an 18‑year‑old defender to receive regular minutes at the highest level.
Dortmund, by contrast, offers a realistic route for such prospects. The notion of Dortmund as a "finishing school" is not new. Stars like Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham have used the Ruhr club as a springboard to elite status. Yet recent seasons have forced the club to rethink its first‑team recruitment strategy, especially as competition for talent has intensified across Europe.
To stay ahead, Dortmund has deliberately turned to younger players, hoping to uncover hidden gems before other clubs do. This places additional responsibility on Schaffran’s staff to refine these prospects. Consequently, the academy’s mindset has undergone a radical overhaul.
"We rewrote our vision and the way we develop players," Schaffran explained. "Previously we were almost solely focused on winning matches at youth level. But a victory with an under‑17 side means little if the player does not evolve into a Bundesliga‑ready professional." He continued: "Our new approach is the opposite of the old one. We deliberately give our youngsters the toughest challenges possible at youth level, because that prepares them for success once they reach senior football.
It represents a massive shift in our thinking." According to Schaffran, Dortmund now fields the youngest under‑17 squad in Germany, the youngest under‑19 side, and the youngest team in the Premier League International Cup. He admits they are unlikely to win the tournament, but that is intentional.
"We are not doing this because it looks good to be the youngest team," he said. "We believe that over‑challenging players forces them to adapt quickly. If you keep them comfortable for too long, they will never learn how to cope with higher intensity, physicality, or tactical complexity." He highlighted the trade‑off: "During periods of adaptation, a player’s impact on the game may dip, meaning the chance of winning at that age level goes down. However, the upside is a far greater developmental gain." A key element of this new philosophy is bio‑banding.
Dortmund now uses ultrasound technology to determine each player’s true skeletal age, ensuring they are placed in competitions that match their physical maturity rather than just their chronological age. The data was eye‑opening. Six years ago, roughly 35 % of the academy were early developers, 60 % fell into the normal range, and fewer than five percent were late developers. Schaffran realized that this distribution reflected scouting bias rather than genuine talent identification.
"The biggest lesson from bio‑banding wasn’t for the players, it was for our coaches and scouts," he said. "It forced them to reassess how they evaluate prospects." Coaches who previously favored players who dominated their age group now pause before making quick judgments. "A 14‑year‑old who gets bullied out of the ball but possesses raw talent will eventually thrive if given the right environment," Schaffran noted.
He recounted the story of an unnamed player who would have been cut under the old system because he was slower than his peers. With the new approach, he has been allowed to develop at his own pace, and there is now genuine hope that he could reach the top level. Schaffran also addressed the idea of quotas. "Instead of imposing arbitrary numbers, we focused on education and balanced development," he explained.
The result this year is a more even spread: 15 % early developers, 70 % normal, and 15 % late developers. Balancing individual growth with team performance can be tricky.
When Inacio and Albert performed exceptionally for the under‑19s, they were promoted to the next level, even though it weakened the side in the short term. 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 played for the under‑19s and under‑23s both domestically and abroad. "He thrives in varied environments and keeps stepping up," Schaffran said.
Admitting the short‑term pain, Schaffran explained: "It’s difficult for the team when our best talents leave. Inacio, Albert, Luca – they all contributed goals and leadership.
If our sole aim were to win at youth level, we would have kept them. But our metric is development, not trophies." The alignment between the academy and the first team has been reinforced by the appointment of former academy chief Rüdiger Ricken, who now makes key decisions for the senior side.
Schaffran works closely with him, attending first‑team squad planning meetings to discuss youth prospects. Ricken’s involvement in recruiting many of the current youngsters has smoothed the transition pathway. "When the academy director is part of the decision‑making process, it creates continuity and confidence for the players," Schaffran noted.
The moment that summed up the new system for Schaffran was seeing Reggiani’s jubilant celebration after his goal against Augsburg. "Luca returned to the academy and celebrated with the under‑12 to under‑15 groups the next day," Schaffran recalled proudly. The club’s conveyor belt of talent is once again in motion, delivering hope and opportunity to the next generation of Dortmund stars.
In summary, Borussia Dortmund has deliberately reshaped its youth academy by lowering the average age of its squads, embracing bio‑banding to tailor challenges, and prioritising long‑term player growth over immediate results. This strategic overhaul aims to produce Bundesliga‑ready talent consistently, ensuring the club remains a fertile ground for future footballing stars.