Brisbane United foundation club Wynnum Wolves have signed a two-year youth development partnership with leading Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund (BVB). Wolves will hold the title of BVB´s “Official Youth Development Partner in Australia”. The collaboration will include delivery of a series of youth development and coaching programs, as well as exchange opportunities with training camps in Germany.

The exciting partnership is great news for Brisbane United, adding football acumen and new opportunities for clubs and players in the BUFC family.

The two clubs will also work on implementing a sustainable structure for Wynnum’s female football program which can leverage BVB´s recent experience with their own women’s team which began play two seasons ago.

Since the devastation of its facilities in the 2022 floods, Wynnum have gone from strength to strength with the federal, state and local governments, as well as BVB´s sustainability partner WILO, all assisting with the club’s rebuild and expansion at Carmichael Park.

Headquartered in Dortmund, WILO is one of the world’s leading premium manufacturers of pumps and pump systems for the building services, water management and industrial sectors.

Benedikt Scholz, Director Internationalisation & Commercial Partnerships and Managing Director BVB Fußballakademie GmbH said: “We are very excited about this partnership with a club who shares the same commitment to developing talented youth players as BVB does. We are looking forward to working with WWFC to bring to life our key objectives in youth development and also women’s football development.”

We are very excited about this partnership with a club who shares the same commitment to developing talented youth players as BVB does.

Wynnum President, Rabieh Krayem was effusive about the opportunities the new partnership will present to aspirational young players and coaches.

“Dortmund is a huge club and is renowned in Europe for its professional and progressive approach to youth development – building from the grassroots up,” he said.

“That is something we have been very passionate about at our club as we have worked to grow the level of our youth program. I truly believe the synergies between our two clubs extend way beyond the yellow and black uniforms our teams both wear.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the partnership will continue to shape future Queensland athletes.

“Brisbane is set to be Australia’s next sporting capital, and the community club players of today are shaping up to be the Olympians of tomorrow,” Cr Schrinner said. “Wynnum Wolves is a deserving community organisation that creates champions and fosters communities here in Brisbane.

“We couldn’t be prouder of this homegrown team and their newest international partnership. It’s through great opportunities like this that Brisbane’s clubs keep getting better.”

WILO Australia Sales & Operations Manager Shaun Dallas has been at the nexus of bringing the two clubs together. A passionate football fan and local business leader, Dallas is looking forward to the positive outcomes that can be achieved.

“WILO has been a long-term sustainability partner of BVB and is looking at ways it can support Wynnum Wolves FC in a sustainable rebuild of Carmichael Park after the floods.” he said.

“Building strong connections with the community is important for our company and what better way to do that than by getting behind a community football club that has an ethos built around grassroots growth and connection.”

The deal is testament to what can be achieved in a partnership where all sides share values and have common goals, as well as the most important attribute – the will to get it done and make it work.