Bavarian Loan Works?: Bayern Munich kids struggled on loans in 2020/2021

Bayern Munich spent time and money over the last five years beefing up their youth academy in hopes of producing first team talent once again. With the club’s first team is currently out of reach for many of these kids, they spent the 2020/2021 season out on loan throughout Europe in hopes of improving their game in order to get that shot. As is always the case with loans, some of them worked out splendidly, while others were absolute disasters.

Let’s take a look at how the young Bayern players did on loan this season.

Michaël Cuisance — Olympique Marseille — Ligue One (France)

Cuisance made 30 appearances for Marseille this season during his loan to Ligue One, which is a great number. Still, many people would consider Cuisance’s time at Marseille a failure. Despite the 13 starts, Cuisance’s 30 appearances averaged out to less than 45 minutes. While it’s definitely not the worst performance, Cuisance and Bayern will be disappointed that he’s returning to Munich with so few minutes. While it’s certainly more minutes than he would’ve received at Bayern this season, Cuisance is going to have to really impress this summer in order to stay at Bayern next season. With three years remaining on his Bayern contract, another loan this summer isn’t out of the question.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 30 matches - 13 starts (Cuisance played 1 match for 18 minutes for Bayern before being loaned to Marseille.)
Minutes: 1,285
Goals: 2
Assists: 1

Adrian Fein — PSV Eindhoven — Eredivisie (Netherlands)

Fein’s time in the Netherlands was one of the more disappointing loans this season. After being one of the best players in the 2.Bundesliga during the 2019/20 season with his loan to Hamburg, Fein taking the next step with PSV seemed like a logical placement. Unfortunately for Fein, he never really earned the confidence of head coach Roger Schmidt and languished on the bench for most of the season. It’s hard to know what the future holds for Fein, and it’s possible that another loan is in the cards for the upcoming season.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 18 matches - 4 starts (Fein also started and went 90 minutes in the opening game for Bayern II.)
Minutes: 566
Goals: 1 (Fein also scored one goal for Bayern II.)
Assists: 3

Lars Lukas Mai — SV Darmstadt 98 — 2. Bundesliga (Germany)

Mai’s loan to Darmstadt was one of the true success stories of Bayern loanees this season. Mai started 30 matches in all competitions this year and was an anchor for Darmstadt’s mid-table finish. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know right now whether or not Mai has reached his ceiling in the 2.Bundesliga; however, with another two years left on his contract, perhaps a loan to a Bundesliga club could be in his future?

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 32 matches - 30 starts
Minutes: 2,800
Goals: 0
Assists: 1

Chris Richards — Hoffenheim — Bundesliga (Germany)

Richards joined Hoffenheim in the January transfer window on a six month loan, and I think that everyone would agree that his time in Sinsheim was a rousing success. With thirteen starts including two in the Europa League, Richards proved that he can play at a Bundesliga level and be quite good at it. Rumors have persisted that Hoffenheim want to bring him back on loan for the upcoming season or buy him outright. Bayern will need to decide whether or not Richards will stay with the first team this season or go back to Hoffenheim.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 13 matches - 13 starts (Richards also played 7 matches, starting 1, for Bayern for a total of 230 minutes. He also started 8 matches totaling 720 minutes for Bayern II.)
Minutes: 1,127
Goals: 0
Assists: 1 (Richards also picked up an assist for Bayern.)

Joshua Zirkzee — Parma — Serie A (Italy)

What could have been? Zirkzee joined Parma in the January window and was immediately put onto the field in games to prove his worth. After coming off the bench in four of his first five matches, reports circulated that Zirkzee was in line for his first start. Then, the injuries started. Zirkzee was never able to get healthy and back in his coach’s good graces. For a loan that started out so promising and ending so disappointing, Zirkzee returns to Munich with his future unclear.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 4 matches - 0 starts (Zirkzee played 5 matches, starting 1, for 103 minutes for Bayern. He also started 4 matches for 290 minutes for Bayern II.)
Minutes: 109
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

Leon Dajaku — Union Berlin — Bundesliga (Germany)

Dajaku never really got going after joining Union in the January transfer window. While he did miss some time with injuries, Dajaku just wasn’t ready to play at the Bundesliga level. Dajaku will stay in Berlin through the summer of 2022, however, so he’ll get his chance to prove his worth.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 2 matches - 0 starts (Dajaku played 1 match for 29 minutes for Bayern. He also 14 matches, starting 10, totaling 949 minutes for Bayern II.)
Minutes: 35
Goals: 0 (Dajaku scored three goals for Bayern II.)
Assists: 0

Taylor Booth — SKN St. Pölten — Bundesliga (Austria)

Booth spent the fall with Bayern II recovering from an injury, but then joined St. Pölten in the Austrian Bundesliga on a six month loan. While the club ended up being relegated at the end of the season, Booth was definitely a bright spot in the club’s midfield. It’s going to be very interesting to see what happens with Booth next season. He’s likely too good to be playing in the Regionalliga now, so maybe another club in Austria or Belgium? Or maybe a 2.Bundesliga loan?

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 17 matches - 11 starts (Booth played 2 matches, starting once, totaling 75 minutes for Bayern II.)
Minutes: 1,089
Goals: 3
Assists: 2

Christian Früchtl — 1. FC Nürnberg — 2. Bundesliga (Germany)

This was an absolute disaster of a loan for Früchtl. The 21-year-old didn’t play a single second during the 2020/2021 season and will be returning to Munich with a wasted year. There are rumors that he could be leaving Bayern this summer for another country (Austria?), but he probably needs to go somewhere. He’s too good for Bayern II and the Regionalliga, but not good enough for the Bundesliga. Hopefully, the once-lauded youth prospect will find his way.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 0 matches
Minutes: 0
Goals: 0
Assists: 0

Oliver Batista Meier — SC Heerenveen — Eredivisie (Netherlands)

What started as a promising loan in the Eredivisie, quickly died out into nothingness. Batista Meier was starting games and playing well. He picked up a goal and an assist in his first six matches. Then, it all fell apart. Following an absence due to contracting COVID-19, Batista Meier could never get back into the good graces of his manager. He played a total of 40 minutes after the winter break. It’s hard to see Batista Meier staying in Munich this summer.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 15 matches - 10 starts
Minutes: 694
Goals: 1
Assists: 1

Alex Timossi Andersson — SK Austria Klagenfurt — 2. Liga (Austria)

Timossi was an instrumental part of Klagenfurt’s success following his loan to the club in January. The club earned promotion at the end of the season, toppling Booth’s St. Pölten in the playoff. He was even nominated for the Golden Ball! He’s under contract with Bayern through 2023, so maybe a loan back to Klagenfurt as they’ll be playing in the Austrian Bundesliga this season?

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 17 matches - 17 starts
Minutes: 1,251
Goals: 4
Assists: 3

Jakob Mayer — TSV 1860 Rosenheim — Regionalliga Bayern (Germany)

Despite being with Rosenheim for one and a half seasons, Mayer managed to play two matches in goal, and he was on the bench for two others. It’s hard to judge Mayer’s season due to the Regionalliga Bayern’s continued start, stop, and delays over the last year.

Due to COVID-19, the Regionalliga Bayern never really restarted after canceling the end of their 2019/20 season.

Jonas Kehl — SSV Ulm 1846 Fußball — Regionalliga Südwest (Germany)

The 20 year old left back had a really solid season for Ulm down in the fourth division. With 20 appearances in the Regionalliga this season, it’s possible that Bayern bring him back to the reserves for the coming season instead of letting him leave.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 20 matches - 17 starts
Minutes: 1532
Goals: 0
Assists: 0 (not reported)

Marvin Cuni — SG Sonnenhof Großaspach — Regionalliga Südwest (Germany)

What a season for the 19 year old Cuni! He was the 8th highest goalscorer in all of the Regionalliga, scoring 19 goals in the campaign. It’s likely that Bayern will allow Cuni to move on this summer, with the club focused on other young players with the return to the Regionalliga. It’s possible that after his great season last year that a 3.Liga club could come calling for him.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 34 matches - 33 starts
Minutes: 2933
Goals: 19
Assists: 0 (not reported)

Jahn Herrmann — Hannover 96 II — Regionalliga Nord (Germany)

Herrmann and Hannover 96 II played more games than Mayer and Rosenheim did in the 2020/2021 season, but it wasn’t many more. Unfortunately for him, it’s hard to judge how successful he was in so few games. It does, however, look like the club had him in their plans for the season before things were shut down down for good due to COVID.

The Regionalliga Nord season was canceled in April 2021 after multiple start-stops of the campaign due to COVID.

Stats across all competitions:

Appearances: 9 matches - 6 starts
Minutes: 552
Goals: 1
Assists: 0