Bayern Munich is accelerating its U.S. talent strategy with plans for a permanent youth academy base at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in Southern California, focused on U15 and U17 players. The German champions intend to lease space long term, creating a dedicated campus environment that mirrors elements of their Munich academy while tapping into one of America’s deepest youth talent pools.
The project is designed to give Bayern earlier, sustained access to U.S. prospects who, under FIFA regulations, generally cannot complete international transfers to European clubs until they turn 18. By integrating players into Bayern’s methodology before that age threshold, the club hopes to smooth future moves to Germany and reduce competition for top American prospects already courted by rival European sides.
Bayern already runs short-term camps and residential programs at Chula Vista, as well as other programs in the U.S., but a permanent academy would mark a significant escalation from event-based programming to year-round development. Players would live and train on-site at an Olympic-grade venue, with access to professional-standard pitches, performance facilities, and integrated education and life-skills support.
The California campus also deepens Bayern’s Red&Gold Football joint venture with Los Angeles FC, launched in 2023 to build a shared pipeline from Southern California to the Bundesliga and MLS. Club executives view the academy as a strategic foothold in a fast-maturing U.S. market, where domestic leagues, European clubs, and new MLS academies are intensifying the race to identify and develop elite youth talent.