LAFC teams up with European giants and German champions Bayern Munich to develop youth talent

Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich and MLS champions Los Angeles FC have announced a joint venture to develop youth talent.  

The joint venture – Red&Gold Football  – aims to, ‘develop international talents, also in cooperation with partner clubs, for their own teams and for professional football.’ 

‘We see this partnership as an opportunity to strengthen FC Bayern in the sporting competition with the best clubs in Europe and the Bundesliga,’ said Bayern team CEO Oliver Kahn. 

‘The fact that the 2026 World Cup will largely take place in the USA, 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.’

Bayern’s Chief Sports Officer Hasan Salihamidzic said this partnership will benefit their youth teams at their development campus that opened in August 2017. 

Bayern Munich has entered into a joint venture with MLS champions Los Angeles FC

LAFC will form one half of Red&Gold Football with Bayern to ‘develop international talents’

‘In the future, we will be able to offer our young players a career path that is even better tailored to them and thus a better transition into our professional teams and professional soccer. This makes FC Bayern more attractive as a youth development club,’ Salihamidzic said. 

‘A partnership of this magnitude is the next step in our evolution as a club,’ said LAFC Co-President and General Manager John Thorrington.

‘We are extremely excited to work together with FC Bayern Munich to identify and develop young talent in Southern California and beyond and believe this relationship will provide players throughout our systems the ability to maximize their potential and see a clear pathway to our first teams.’

‘This is a truly special moment for LAFC,’ LAFC Co-President & CBO Larry Freedman added. 

‘We look forward to working together with our partner FC Bayern to not only develop talent and continue to grow our sport and our brand on the global stage, but to share best practices and improve our organizations off the pitch as well.’

Bayern Munich isn’t a stranger to partnering with MLS clubs. They’ve had a partnership with FC Dallas that has seen them develop top talents like Chris Richards – now at Crystal Palace – and Justin Che, currently on loan at Hoffenheim.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Bayern Munich says they are continuing their partnership with Dallas – LAFC’s Western Conference rivals.

‘FC Bayern’s Elite Player Development partnership with FC Dallas has been extremely successful, featuring the exchange of players such as Chris Richards and Jose Mulato. FC Bayern remains partners of the Hunt Sports Group and its Kansas City Chiefs team and we will continue to have a strong business relationship with FC Dallas.’

Last season, Bayern won its 10th consecutive Bundesliga title – while LAFC won their first MLS Cup crown after defeating the Philadelphia Union on penalties.

Bayern has previously worked with FC Dallas – bringing players to train at their campus

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