Talent factory Holstein Kiel: Nunio Ahrens on the way to becoming a football star!

Talent factory Holstein Kiel: Nunio Ahrens on the way to becoming a football star!

An exciting change is emerging in German football: Nunio Ahrens, the great talent from Lübeck, will in future have his footballing home at Union Berlin in their youth performance center (NLZ). As the official Union Berlin website reports, Ahrens, who is only 14 years old and already plays for the U15 of the German national team, was signed on July 1, 2025. FC Union Berlin knows what potential the young player has and sees him as valuable reinforcement.

Ahrens only came to Holstein Kiel from VfB Lübeck two years ago and has developed splendidly since then. After a mixed start thanks to the corona pandemic, he was able to impress with the Kiel U15 team last season and was actually called up to the U15 national team selection. There was a turbulent debut against the Netherlands, followed by another appearance against Belgium. André Hofschneider, the coach at NLZ, emphasizes the versatility of the young talent. In his opinion, Ahrens is not only strong defensively, but the club will also specifically promote him in order to further develop his potential.

Family history and first steps

But what is behind the name Nunio Ahrens? His family is no stranger to the football world. His grandfather, Harald Ahrens, once played in the GDR league, and his father Ronald Ahrens had a distinguished career at F.C. Hansa Rostock and other clubs. Nunio grew up in Selmsdorf and started playing football there at the age of five. After a successful trial training at VfB Lübeck, four years followed at the club, which ultimately led him to Holstein Kiel. The change wasn't easy; his family commuted four times a week, as moving was only possible from the U17 onwards. HL Sports points out that this step was still necessary for its development.

During his time in the U15 at Holstein Kiel, he was quickly able to make a name for himself, especially after winning the North German championship with the Schleswig-Holstein state team. This success did not go unnoticed by the U15 national coach Michael Prus, which led to new invitations to the DFB course in Oberhaching and to training at the DFB campus in Frankfurt. Nunio stands for speed, dynamism and an outstanding overview of the game, attributes that make him a sought-after player in the regional league and in various positions such as 6, 8, 10 or in attack.

The look into the future

Ahrens has already taken the first step towards professional football. Despite his young age, he has developed skills and has been targeted by several Bundesliga clubs. He also landed a kit deal with Puma, which could give his career a further boost. The focus for Nunio and his family now remains on his development to make the transition from youth to men's level as smooth as possible. Ronald Ahrens emphasizes how important it is to stick with the DFB and primarily overcome the challenges within the club in order not to be relegated.

In summary, the football world continues to look to Nunio Ahrens. Union Berlin's decision seems to send a strong signal and shows that the club has a good knack for promoting young talent. Union Berlin's NLZ is known for its modern talent promotion and will certainly do everything it can to support Ahrens on his path. Does he have what it takes to establish himself in the professional field? Time will tell!