Bayern goalkeeping talent Leonard Prescott (17) courted by Chelsea and USMNT
Bayern Munich face an increasingly complicated decision over highly-rated goalkeeper Leonard Prescott as interest in the 17-year-old continues to grow both at club and international level. Transfermarkt reports that Chelsea and Juventus remain strongly interested in the New York-born German-American, while several Bundesliga clubs have also explored the possibility of signing him.
Bayern want to extend Prescott’s contract beyond its current June 30th, 2027 expiry date. Negotiations are ongoing. The sporting pathway represents the obvious complication.
Prescott has long been regarded as one of Bayern’s most promising academy goalkeepers. Get German Football News first examined his rapid rise into Vincent Kompany’s senior squad last March, when a goalkeeper injury crisis left the then 16-year-old potentially one fitness setback away from a Champions League debut against Atalanta.
Prescott ultimately remained unused, but finished the season having made six senior matchday squads across the Bundesliga and Champions League. His route toward the first team now looks rather different.
Jonas Urbig blocks Leonard Prescott’s Bayern pathway
Jonas Urbig has continued to strengthen his claim to succeed Manuel Neuer as Bayern’s long-term No. 1. The 23-year-old has accumulated significant senior experience since arriving from Cologne in January 2025 and Bayern’s succession planning increasingly revolves around handing Urbig the gloves once Neuer steps aside. The club’s broader goalkeeper planning only reinforces that impression.
Rather than adding another young challenger when Neuer eventually leaves, Bayern have been considering experienced options capable of supporting Urbig as a reliable No. 2. Prescott, meanwhile, was promoted to Bayern’s reserves this season with the intention of collecting regular Regionalliga minutes. A meniscus injury suffered during the summer interrupted those plans and required surgery.
The youngster remains highly regarded internally.
Urbig is under contract through 2029 and has now begun making progress at international level as well. He made his senior Germany debut under Jürgen Klopp earlier this month before being handed a second consecutive start against Greece. Klopp stressed that the decision to give Urbig successive Germany appearances should not be interpreted as establishing a new national-team hierarchy.
Prescott’s own international future nevertheless appears increasingly relevant to his career planning.
USMNT offers Prescott 2030 pathway
Prescott’s international future adds another layer to the decision. Born in New York before growing up in Germany, the goalkeeper remains eligible to represent both countries. He has thus far played for Germany at youth level and has made multiple appearances for the U17 national team.
Transfermarkt nevertheless reports that the United States federation has already made its interest known. According to the report, US Soccer has signalled that Prescott could develop into the national team’s No. 1 goalkeeper looking toward the 2030 World Cup.