Bayern Munich and Los Angeles FC have reached an agreement to bolster both teams’ development of young players.
In order to develop players for both teams abroad, the Bundesliga champions and the MLS Cup winners have formed a joint business called “Red&Gold Football” with headquarters in Munich.
Oliver Kahn, the chief executive of Bayern, claimed that the affiliation with LAFC would help the German powerhouses stay competitive against their European competitors as MLS’s caliber rose.
“On an international level, soccer is developing rapidly, which is also evident in the transfer market,” Kahn told the club’s website.
“We see this partnership as an opportunity to strengthen FC Bayern in the sporting competition with the best clubs in Europe and the Bundesliga.
“The fact that the 2026 World Cup will largely take place in the United States, where we already have an office in New York, makes Los Angeles even more attractive.
“I expect a boost in quality and young talent in Major League Soccer, which will have a positive impact on our partnership.”
FC Bayern and @LAFC have announced a new joint venture to assist with the development of young talent ⤵️
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 13, 2023
LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said: “A partnership of this magnitude is the next step in our evolution as a club. We are extremely excited to work together with FC Bayern to identify and develop young talent in Southern California and beyond.
“We believe this relationship will provide players throughout our systems with the ability to maximise their potential and see a clear pathway to first-team football.”
The sides envisage the partnership could grow to include other clubs and development academies across the game in the future “as part of a global development initiative”.