FC Bayern signs Nestory Irankunda from Australia: New FCB jewel in Alphonso Davies’ footsteps

An anticipation of the summer, Irankunda is currently still 17 years old and – according to the statutes Down Under – is only allowed to move to Europe when he is an adult (Irankunda will be 18 in February). According to the FCB press release, Irankunda is signing “a long-term contract” in the Bavarian capital; the German record champions did not provide any information regarding a transfer fee. According to reports, this should be up to three million euros.

“We’ve had Nestory on our radar for some time now,” Jochen Sauer, head of the FCB youth training center, was quoted as saying in the statement: “Nestory is an extremely fast wing player, dribbling and strong at the end and with a lot of power towards the goal. We are convinced about his potential and that he will take the next step with us.”

Irankunda, a young, unknown leaf from a league that runs under the radar in local areas. Memories inevitably come back to a certain Alphonso Davies, who moved to Bayern from the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer in January 2019.

Davies was also 17 years old at the time of his signing in the summer of 2018 and smiled into the camera with braces at the time. Similar to Irankunda, he was only known to experts with an affinity for young footballers; he was also touted as a “fast and technically adept offensive player”.

“As a child, I always dreamed of a moment like this,” the Canadian enthused at the time. He added: “Now the dream has come true. But now the work continues, now I have to give everything to take advantage of this opportunity.”

And how he took advantage of his opportunity. Within a very short time, Davies worked his way from the Munich amateurs into the A team and became the undisputed regular player under coach Hansi Flick, who used the youngster as a left-back. A year and a half after his arrival in the Bavarian capital, he lifted the championship trophy, DFB Cup and Champions League pot.

The parallels between Davies and Irankunda do not just relate to the playing qualities. Like Davies, Irankunda was also born in an African refugee camp because his parents had previously had to flee a civil war. Irankunda’s parents fled from Burundi to Tanzania, Davies’ parents left Liberia for Ghana, where today’s superstar was born.

“I know it was very hard for my parents,” Irankunda recently told the YouTube channel “KEEPUP.” Shortly after Irankunda’s birth, the family moved to Adelaide, Australia. In the city of over a million people, Irankunda quickly discovered his enthusiasm for the big ball of leather; it was clear early on that the boy had great talent. “I always played one year higher throughout my youth,” he explained.

His path was still rocky, so his two brothers hung up their football boots so that he could play in the club. “The club fees were simply too high and they sacrificed their dream for mine,” said Irankunda, who also owes a big thank you to his parents. “My dad probably sacrificed the most for me. Before I got my license, he drove me everywhere. He even sometimes couldn’t go to church to take me to practice or games.”

The commitment paid off; at the age of 14, Irankunda was discovered by Adelaide United, and at just 15 he made his debut in the first team. It is now indispensable. In 39 professional games he contributed nine goals and two assists. Values ​​that Irankunda will expand on in the coming months until he moves to Munich. “The experiences of the next few months in the A-League will have a very positive effect on his further development,” predicted Campus boss Sauer.

Meanwhile, Irankunda knows exactly what he wants: the handle pot. He made this clear in an interview on “KEEPUP”. The youngster is already thinking about the distant future: “I want to end my career at Adelaide United.” But first the big adventure in Germany is coming up.

Irankunda will initially be further developed on the campus in the north of Munich. Like Davies once did. And who knows – perhaps the Australian U-national player will follow a similar path in terms of positioning, from offensive to defensive winger. Irankunda at least has a history as a defensive player.

“I often watched Barcelona games. I wanted to be a central defender, I used to play in the center of defense. I liked Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué,” he revealed. “I was initially sad when they told me I should play striker because my dream was to be a defender.”

And defenders – as is becoming clear these days – FC Bayern can always use them. However, they still have to wait a little longer in Munich for Irankunda’s services.