NEW YORK (January 12, 2026) – FC Bayern’s U23 squad will head to the West Coast for a ten-day training camp as the team intensifies preparations for the second half of the season. The German giant’s second team will be based at the elite Chula Vista training complex in San Diego, led by head coach Holger Seitz and Jochen Sauer, FC Bayern’s Director of Youth Development.
As part of the club’s partnership with Los Angeles Football Club, Bayern’s U23s will face LAFC in a closed-door scrimmage on Tuesday, January 20. The match continues the collaboration between the two clubs to develop young talent, expand pathways across global soccer, and deepen ties within the North American soccer landscape.
“The West Coast provides the perfect environment for us to prepare for the second half of the season,” said Jochen Sauer, Director of Youth Development at FC Bayern. “Our partnership with LAFC continues to create meaningful opportunities for young players to grow, challenge themselves, and learn from different soccer cultures. This camp is an important step in their development.”
The squad traveling to California includes three American players:
- Bajung Darboe, an attacking midfielder and winger who joined FC Bayern from LAFC in 2025 and has represented the United States at youth level.
- Robert Edward Deziel Jr., a U.S.-born center-back who grew up in Spain and developed at the academies of Real Madrid, Unión Adarve, and Celta Vigo before joining FC Bayern’s youth system.
- Grayson Dettoni, a defender from California who began his career at San Diego Surf before moving to Germany at age ten and entering FC Bayern’s academy in 2017.
“We’re excited to return to the United States, a market that continues to produce talented young players,” said Holger Seitz, Head Coach of FC Bayern U23s. “This camp gives our group the chance to train in outstanding facilities, test themselves against a strong LAFC side, and build momentum for the challenges ahead.”
The FC Bayern U23 squad and Jochen Sauer will be available for media interviews on Tuesday, January 20 in Los Angeles. To request access or schedule interviews, please contact FC Bayern directly.
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