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Bayern Move to Secure 17-Year-Old Lennart Karl With Automatic Contract Conversion

A clause reported in Germany converts his youth contract into a longer professional deal on February 22, 2026.

Overview

  • Frankfurter Rundschau, citing kicker, reports Karl’s academy deal will automatically switch to a long-term professional contract on his 18th birthday, including a significant pay rise.
  • The winger’s breakout week featured a Champions League debut goal that made him the youngest German scorer in the competition for Bayern and a subsequent Bundesliga long-range strike.
  • Head coach Vincent Kompany lauded Karl’s courage and finishing but emphasized blocking out hype and prioritizing training and development.
  • Commentators such as Lothar Matthäus and Dietmar Hamann have talked up national-team prospects, drawing media pushback that urges restraint and echoes advice from Arjen Robben about daily improvement.
  • Transfer chatter remains speculative, with ran.de relaying a Caught Offside claim that Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal sent scouts, while Karl is contracted to Bayern through 2028 with the conversion clause in place.