August 4 – Bundesliga International have signed a three-year deal with Taicang hi-tech zone in China, in an effort to “support Sino-German economic, cultural and football development in the Yangtze River Delta”.
The cooperation will look to strengthen the presence of the Bundesliga in a city already dubbed ‘Little Germany’ due to it hosting almost 600 German firms.
The deal, signed last Friday in Taicang, is based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties in June in Stuttgart, which was designed to help give the Bundesliga a bigger profile in the Yangtze region.
As one of China’s top economic regional clusters – spanning Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui – the area is home to around 240 million people, more than the entirety of Western Europe bundled together. Bundesliga will hope it will act as a springboard for German clubs to enter the China market which is loaded with untapped potential.
The Bundesliga has been close with China for years, and already holds its own office in Beijing. Five of its clubs – FC Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach,VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt – also have offices within China, more than any other European league,. The Bundesliga plays host to more Asian players than the rest of the top five leagues combined.
This is the next step in the league’s expansion strategy into China, who have committed to developing grassroots football in the region and continue to build the foundations for footballing pathways to Germany through projects like Bundesliga Dream China.
That project has already seen success: five players from the first Bundesliga Dream experiment contributed seven goals and seven assists while China was heading to final of AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2024, giving a clue that the sleeping giant might be ready to finally wake up on the international stage.
“Bundesliga International is proud to sign a cooperation with such an important city for German business,” said Peer Naubert, Chief Executive Officer of Bundesliga International.
“Taicang perfectly fits our strategy of supporting local football development and working with our partners. The Bundesliga remains the most active European league in China and we are excited to continue broadening relations.
“We’re looking forward to more great joint ventures in the future.”
Naubert was joined by Xu Huadong, the Mayor of Taicang, at the signing ceremony in Taicang on Friday.
“The Bundesliga enjoys extensive influence in China, and the in-depth cooperation with it will greatly contribute to football cultural exchanges between Taicang and Germany, the improvement of youth football standards, and the enhancement of the city’s profile,” said Xu Huadong.
“I look forward to both sides working together to formulate specific annual cooperation initiatives, elevate Taicang’s youth football to new heights, boost the influence of signature events like the Taicang Rottenburg Oktoberfest and achieve tangible results from the collaboration.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1754315642labto1754315642ofdlr1754315642owedi1754315642sni@g1754315642niwe.1754315642yrrah1754315642