Talented defender with a promising future: Luca Erlein profiled

U19 Double And Europa League debut

Erlein, who was born in Heidelberg, moved from the Astoria Walldorf youth section to the Hoffenheim academy in 2018, where he progressed through all the age groups. He won the German U19 Championship and the DFB Junior Cup in 2024, and also made appearances in the UEFA Youth League during the 2024/25 season, including against Manchester City. The next milestone came in early 2025 in the group stage of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League, when the defender made his professional debut in a 4–3 victory over top Belgian club RSC Anderlecht.

Last season, the 1.90-metre-tall Erlein gained further valuable playing experience and featured for TSG's reserves in the third division. In his first three matches, the defender provided three assists, including one against his future loan club, Energie Cottbus, who were promoted at the end of the season after finishing second in the table.

u19 euro final with Culbreath and Onyeka

From a young age, Erlein also made regular appearances for Germany's youth national teams. He made his debut for the U19s in September 2025 against Croatia, and was immediately handed the captain’s armband. Two matches later, the defender also scored his first goal for Germany’s U19s.

At the recently concluded U19 European Championship in Wales, the new Leverkusen signing reached the final alongside Bayer 04 professionals Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka – who is currently on loan at Bundesliga newcomers SV 07 Elversberg – before he and his side were defeated by Spain in the final. Erlein played the full 90 minutes in every match of the tournament.

Building on his experience in youth, professional and international football, Erlein is now set for the next step in his development with Cottbus in Bundesliga 2. Bayer 04 managing director sport, Simon Rolfes, is excited by the move: “His progress so far has been promising. We're absolutely confident that he will step up to the Bundesliga in due course.”