In collaboration with BigHit, the ‘Bundesliga Dream India’ seeks to identify the best talent across the Indian subcontinent from two different age groups, with the successful trialists invited to travel to Germany for an immersive training camp experience.

The objective of the project is to create a pathway for talented young Indian footballers to come to Germany to hone their skills within a Bundesliga youth academy set-up, the likes of which have helped develop countless national and international stars of world football, both past and present. Over the next one-and-a-half years, six teams from the U-13 & U-15 age groups will be selected to train with and compete against participating Bundesliga clubs in Germany.

As part of the scouting process, BigHit – a multiple-sports platform committed to the identification and promotion of sporting talent across India – will liaise with local football stakeholders to arrange trials for aspiring young footballers across the country. The first edition of the U-13 National Finals will take place in April 2024, with over 200 hopefuls competing to make the final two squads a month later. Bundesliga Legend and former Werder Bremen and FC Bayern München striker Claudio Pizarro will join a panel of coaches, made up of both Bundesliga coaches and top local trainers, to create a selection committee that will be responsible for choosing the final squads making their way to Germany.

Upon arrival in Germany, the players will be fully immersed into life at a Bundesliga academy; participating in training sessions and friendly matches against other Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 youth teams, as well as tailored educational programmes focused on important aspects of life as a footballer, including nutrition, sports psychology and physical recovery. FC Augsburg will host the first squad, with the second team heading to Eintracht Frankfurt a week later. A camera crew will follow the team throughout their respective journeys, capturing match footage and behind the scenes content as part of a documentary mini-series.

Peer Naubert, Bundesliga International Chief Marketing Officer, said: “It is an exciting time for football in India, where more than half of the world’s biggest population is under 25 years of age. We have seen tremendous growth in the interest for football, particularly concerning those aged 16-24 who are tuning in to watch their favourite Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 teams. On the pitch, the talent is also evident, and we were pleased to host the India U17 national team in Germany last year, to see the potential up close.

“Now we are taking our efforts one step further, working with BigHit to establish a platform for promising young players from India to shine. I am excited to see what comes from this latest initiative as we continue to invest in the development of football at all levels across Asia.”

Shaktie Prakash, BigHit Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said: “As the exclusive partner of the ‘Bundesliga Dream’ initiative in India, we are excited to offer the young and driven Indian youth talent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a world class level of training early in their lives. Together, with Bundesliga International, we are poised to pioneer a game-changing movement in the sport.”

Vinit Kore, BigHit Co-founder and Chief Business Officer, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Bundesliga International on ‘Bundesliga Dream India’, as we eagerly anticipate an unprecedented growth for Indian football. Unified in our commitment to fostering young players’ development, we are enthusiastic about pooling our resources to create exceptional opportunities and experiences for the ambitious and athletic youth of today.”

The latest ‘Bundesliga Dream’ project in India is the next extension of an existing framework to support the development of football across Asia, which includes previous editions featuring the national youth teams from Thailand, Vietnam and most recently China, as well as the ‘Bundesliga Training Camp’, where the Indonesia U-17 Youth Team came to train and play in Germany ahead of their FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign. The key objective for the DFL and Bundesliga international is to create a pathway for Asian youth players to develop both on and off the pitch.

The Bundesliga has a long history with Asian players, having welcomed more players to Europe in the last 20 years than the other top four European leagues combined.