Noël Aseko Nkili is hardly some new discovery of an exciting talent. When Bayern bought him at 16 from Hertha Berlin in 2022, he was already regarded as one of the most exciting young midfield talents
in Germany. Despite persistent injuries slowing his progress in the meantime, Nkili did enough to feature heavily in Vincent Kompany’s first team pre-season preparations. He took his improved form into the Regionalliga with Bayern II and earned an 18 month loan move to 2nd division side Hannover 96 in January of 2025, complete with Bayern’s usual M.O. of giving the receiving club and option to buy but including a buy back clause.
Initially, Nkili was relegated to the second team in the 3. Liga (yes, even a team in the second division had a team in the 3. Liga) but he was supposed to eventually get integrated into the first team. However, Hannover experienced a lot of coaching turnover that season, going through 3 head coaches in a row and leaving the spot open to be filled in the summer. Nkili’s future would depend heavily on who the next head coach would be.
So it’s lucky that it would be Christian Titztaking the role. Lauded as one of the best up and coming young German managers, Titz was known as his previous clubs to effectively create a team that plays pretty and effective attacking football while giving chances to young players. Essentially, this was the best case scenario appointment for Nkili. Under Titz, Nkili has blossomed in the beginning of the season, scoring the game winning goal on the first matchday and rescuing a point recently while going from the fringes of the first team to a regular starter.
Which is why we are now here, with a BILD report, as captured by @iMiaSanMia, speculating that Nkili could make a comeback to Bayern as early as next season:
Noël Aséko Nkili (19), Bayern midfielder on loan at Hannover, has been one of the positive surprises of the 2. Bundesliga so far this season. Aséko has established himself as a key player for Hannover, currently sitting third in the table – and although he’s mainly a defensive midfielder, he has already scored two goals. The 19-year old is under contract at Bayern until 2028. Hannover have an option to buy worth around €1m. But Bayern have secured a buyback clause in the low single-digit million range. If he continues his form, it’s not ruled out that Bayern would bring Aséko back next summer, either to give him a chance with the first team, loan him out to a higher division or sell him for a profit.
First of all, he’s not a defensive midfielder. He may run a lot and be a good tackler, but he is hardly the type of player to sit in front of a defense.
Second, it is still too soon to truly speculate that far ahead. Nkili’s hype has been cut short plenty of times through to recurring and heavy injuries and he has played just 6 league games at the time of writing. But the 19-year-old Germany U-21 international truly is very talented and it is far from impossible that he makes the grade at Bayern. Fingers crossed things will work out well for the rest of the season.
What makes the Bundesliga the best league in the world?
Is it the screamers from 30 yards? The global superstars? Or the fact that on any given day, the underdog can win 4–3?
In this episode of The Bundesliga Rundown, Marcus shares why—in his opinion—the Bundesliga stands apart: the legendary 50+1 rule.
Here’s what’s inside:
- A quick background on the 50+1 rule
- Why the tide may be changing among football fans: are people starting to realise that romanticism matters more than success on the pitch?
- Union Berlin! The underdog from the East
- Union of yesterday: from donating blood to save their club, to playing at the Santiago Bernabéu
- Union of today: defensive but lethal
- Steffen Baumgart: the Bundesliga’s most energetic coach
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If you’re on Instagram, be sure to follow the Bundesliga Rundown at @TheBundesligaRundown
Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.
