The German Football Association (DFB) has awarded Finn Jeltsch the gold Fritz Walter Medal for players born in 2006. The defender won this, the highest individual DFB accolade for talent development, for his performances throughout the 2024/25 season. The DFB also took into consideration the player’s behaviour off the pitch and his overall development, as well as his sporting achievements.
“We would like extend our warmest congratulations to Finn on winning the gold Fritz Walter Medal,” said Fabian Wohlgemuth, VfB board member for sport. “The medal is recognition for Finn’s development, while at the same time being a reward for all the clubs, coaches and staff members who have helped Finn along the way in his career to date. A particular mention should go to 1. FC Nürnberg, of course, where Finn spent a number of years in the youth system and went on to take his first steps and play his first matches as a pro.”
In Stuttgart since February
Jeltsch joined VfB in February of this year and has gone on to make 19 first-team appearances for the club, as well as being part of the DFB Cup-winning squad last May. Prior to the move, the 19-year-old had spent a number of years in Nürnberg’s academy and with amateur club SV Raitersaich. As a German youth international, he was part of the U17 team that won both the European Championship and the World Cup. He has 39 youth caps to his name for Germany to date, the most recent coming on 9 September in a 5-0 win over Latvia for the U-21s.
The DFB Fritz Walter Medal
What makes a young footballer into a role model? Is it what they do out on the pitch or how they carry themselves off it? Their ball skills or their mental strength? It takes a fair dose of all of the above, and youth players who manage to display all of these qualities are the ones who receive the Fritz Walter Medal.