Tom Bischof is having a promising debut season at FC Bayern, drawing comparisons to Joshua Kimmich. The 20-year-old versatile player’s future role is heavily dependent on transfer market developments, and a World Cup nomination appears unlikely for now.
He is only 20 years old and has not even been at the club for a full year. Yet, in a way, Tom Bischof has already made history at FC Bayern: he is the first player whose behavior has provoked public criticism from coach Vincent Kompany.
Kompany typically navigates any contentious issues with his likable and collegial demeanor. When asked about the performance or statements of individual players, he prefers to focus on the bigger picture, unlike his predecessors Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel. However, after the 1-0 victory against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, Bischof publicly criticized Bayern’s pressing in recent weeks (attributing the numerous goals conceded that ultimately led to their Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain), causing Kompany to deviate from his usual approach.
‘He is a young player and he made a mistake in this interview,’ Kompany stated decisively. While delivering these rather harsh words, Kompany still managed to maintain his friendly and collegial tone. Bischof has no need to fear consequences; instead, Kompany praised him as a ‘super lad’ despite the ‘mistake.’
Due to a muscle fiber tear, Bischof was sidelined with an injury for the past few weeks and only celebrated his comeback against Wolfsburg. This means his criticism was ultimately directed at his teammates, excluding himself, which made his statement appear very unfortunate regardless of its content. Bischof was likely unaware of how his words would be perceived by the public and possibly by his teammates.
Fundamentally, however, it is commendable that players reflect and express their opinions assertively. Such missteps can be made on the path to becoming a significant figure at the club and eventually a leader. The fact that Bischof dared to offer this analysis speaks to his overall impressive development at FC Bayern.
Tom Bischof Quickly Established Himself as a Rotation Player at FC Bayern
After just one year as a regular starter at TSG Hoffenheim, Bischof moved to FC Bayern last summer. He was initially a free transfer, but as the Munich club wanted him to be part of the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, they ultimately paid €300,000. In his debut season, Bischof has proven to be a flexible and reliable rotation player.
He seamlessly transitions between positions: Bischof has defended on both the left and right flanks, and has also featured in his preferred role in central midfield. In 36 appearances, he has started 16 times, accumulating 1564 minutes. This places him 15th in the internal ranking, ahead of more experienced and expensive players like Nicolas Jackson and Raphaël Guerreiro. He has contributed three assists and two goals, including a late brace in the 3-2 comeback victory against SC Freiburg in early April.
Tom Bischof Evokes Memories of Joshua Kimmich
Bischof’s development evokes memories of Joshua Kimmich’s early days at FC Bayern. Among those who see the resemblance is Joshua Kimmich himself. ‘Tom’s situation reminds me of my own eleven years ago,’ the now 31-year-old vice-captain recently said. ‘Before the season, it felt like nobody believed you could be important for a team like Bayern Munich.’ Kimmich moved to Munich in 2015 at the age of 20 for €9.5 million from then second-division club RB Leipzig and immediately received regular playing time in various positions under Pep Guardiola.
In a FAZ interview in January, Bischof revealed that Kimmich contacted him shortly after his transfer announcement: ‘He wrote that when he moved to Bayern, he hadn’t played a single Bundesliga game yet – and he still dared to make the move. And that he trusts me to do the same. He said he was happy and believed in me. It was a beautiful goosebumps moment to receive so much trust beforehand.’
Bischof is not only reminiscent of Kimmich in his development and assertiveness but also in his playing style. He admits to having heard the comparison ‘a few times’ himself. Kimmich eventually became an undisputed starter at right-back in his third season at FC Bayern in 2017/18, before gradually moving into defensive midfield. Where Bischof’s best chances for a starting spot lie is currently unclear and depends crucially on Bayern’s transfer activities in the summer.
FC Bayern: What’s Happening in the Transfer Market?
Two direct rivals, Raphaël Guerreiro and Leon Goretzka, are leaving the club on free transfers. As it stands, Bischof would be the primary alternative to the established Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović in defensive midfield. Academy product Noel Aseko (20) is returning after a successful loan spell at Hannover 96. Furthermore, persistent rumors suggest interest in 16-year-old top talent Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha BSC, but competition is fierce. Nathan De Cat (17) from RSC Anderlecht has also been mentioned.
For the defensive wide areas, Konrad Laimer, Josip Stanišić, Alphonso Davies, and Hiroki Ito are available for the upcoming season. However, there are many question marks. Stanišić and Ito might also be needed in central defense, especially if Min-jae Kim leaves without a suitable replacement being signed. Ito is also considered a candidate for sale. Davies’ fitness is increasingly a cause for concern: after missing large parts of this season due to injury, he sustained another thigh muscle injury against PSG and is therefore also doubtful for the World Cup. Laimer’s future beyond his contract ending in 2027 is entirely uncertain, especially after Uli Hoeneß’s critical remarks last week.
Regardless, a new right-back is expected to arrive in the summer. Givairo Read of Feyenoord Rotterdam was long considered the favorite, but he has recently been sidelined with an injury, which has reportedly cooled the interest somewhat. In any case, Bayern is not willing to pay Feyenoord’s alleged asking price of €30 million, nor Laimer’s salary demands of €15 million per year.
Bischof is grateful to continue gaining match experience in various positions as needed for the time being, positioning himself to eventually succeed the 31-year-old Kimmich in central midfield.
Tom Bischof Has Little Chance of a World Cup Nomination
Before discussing Bischof’s future role at FC Bayern, there is, of course, a World Cup to consider. His only international cap to date was in June 2025, and he most recently captained the U21 national team. ‘Of course, I hope to get a call,’ Bischof said on Saturday. Julian Nagelsmann will announce his World Cup squad next Thursday. However, judging by the national coach’s comments at a press conference before the March internationals, a positive outcome appears unlikely.
When asked about Bischof’s absence, the national coach praised him for his ‘perfect understanding of his role’ (meaning he trusts Bischof to sit on the bench without complaint), but also saw no meaningful sporting role for him (yet). ‘You have to consider: When do I bring the player in? And there were simply other players ahead of me in my thoughts, who have more rhythm, more experience. The idea with Tom hasn’t fully matured yet based on his recent playing time.’ At that point, Bischof had been regularly collecting minutes as a rotation player at FC Bayern. Shortly thereafter, he was injured and was out for about a month. This has likely further diminished his chances.
‘Just discussing his name given his limited playing time is an honor in itself. If he doesn’t make the World Cup, he just has to keep going,’ Nagelsmann believes, and he also offered a small praise for Bischof. He is an ‘outstandingly good footballer,’ and during his only previous call-up a year ago, ‘he behaved excellently as a person, was very humble, and carried cases.’ As Nagelsmann has heard, Bischof is also ‘very popular at Bayern Munich in the dressing room and with the coach.’ This is unlikely to have changed despite the historic criticism.