Karl, 17, made his debut for Bayern during the Club World Cup, coming on as a substitute against Auckland City. He quickly caught the attention of fans and pundits alike, impressing with his performances in preseason friendlies, where he scored against Tottenham and Grasshopper Zurich.
He made his Bundesliga debut in the 2025-26 season opener against RB Leipzig, showcasing his potential on the big stage. Impressed by his promise and work ethic, Bayern moved to secure his future with a contract extension that keeps him at the club until 2028.
“Lennart Karl is the hottest asset we have,” World Cup winner Khedira told Kicker. “He has an incredible sense of humour. He has a certain arrogance—but a healthy arrogance. I simply love that. These are players who know: ‘I’m incredibly good, but I still respect the seasoned professionals.”
After being left on the bench for Bayern’s win against Augsburg at the end of August, German legend Lothar Matthaus said he saw the teenager looking upset and frustrated as the former star criticised coach Vincent Kompany for his reluctance to trust the academy’s top performers.
Bayern striker Harry Kane, however, urged Karl to stay patient and keep working hard, saying: “If I were him, I would train hard, work hard, and try to learn from the people around me. When he gets his chance, he has to take it, just as he has done so far.”
Karl will be hoping that Kompany gives him more playing time in the future, allowing him to develop and live up to the expectations placed on him.
