Bayern Munich reportedly retained a preferential buyback clause when selling Maurice Krattenmacher to SV Elversberg during the summer transfer window.

According to Sport Bild, the German record champions can bring the 21-year-old back to Munich for €7.5m. Other clubs would have to trigger a general €9m release clause contained in Krattenmacher’s contract. The arrangement suddenly looks considerably more interesting following the attacking midfielder’s excellent start to his first Bundesliga campaign.

At the time, Krattenmacher appeared destined to begin the season on the bench. Cole Campbell had emerged as the preferred option on the left, Noah Darvich had pushed toward the No. 10 position and Lukas Petkov remained firmly established on the opposite flank. Krattenmacher’s versatility still made him an obvious candidate to become useful quickly.

That assessment has aged rather well.

Krattenmacher turns substitute role into three Bundesliga goals

Krattenmacher has yet to start a Bundesliga match this season, but has scored three times across four substitute appearances. His breakthrough came during Elversberg’s remarkable 4-3 comeback victory away at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Vincent Wagner introduced Krattenmacher in the 65th minute with SVE trailing 3-1. Barely a minute later, the substitute pulled one back.

Felix Keidel eventually levelled matters with a direct free-kick before Krattenmacher struck again in stoppage time to complete the comeback and secure Elversberg’s second consecutive Bundesliga victory. The Munich native then supplied another particularly memorable moment one week later.

With defending champions Bayern leading Elversberg 1-0, Krattenmacher came off the bench and curled home a long-range equalizer shortly after the hour mark. Harry Kane ultimately rescued a 2-1 victory for Vincent Kompany’s side, but Krattenmacher had briefly placed his former club in genuine danger of dropping points.

Three goals from four substitute appearances constitutes an extraordinary return for a player who entered the campaign outside Wagner’s projected starting XI.

Bayern retain control over potential Krattenmacher return

Krattenmacher’s development has been followed closely in Munich for some time. After Bayern acquired the former Unterhaching prospect, he spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan with Ulm and produced three goals and eight assists across 32 2. Bundesliga appearances.

Another loan followed at Hertha BSC in the summer of 2025. At the time, Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund stressed that the club still viewed Krattenmacher as a player with significant potential and intended to monitor his development closely.

Bayern eventually opted for a permanent separation this summer. The reported terms nevertheless suggest that the Bundesliga champions were unwilling to surrender complete control over the player’s future.

Krattenmacher’s €9m general exit clause already gives Elversberg limited long-term protection should his development continue at its present rate. Bayern’s separate €7.5m option affords his former club an additional advantage.

For now, a return to Munich remains merely contractual possibility rather than an imminent transfer scenario.

Four Bundesliga appearances into Krattenmacher’s Elversberg career, however, the clause already looks substantially more relevant than it did when Bayern accepted €2m for his departure this summer.