logo
Australia winger Irankunda completes Watford switch from Bayern Munich

Australia winger Irankunda completes Watford switch from Bayern Munich

Arab News6 days ago
LONDON: Australia international Nestory Irankunda has joined Watford on a five-year deal from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, the English Championship club announced on Friday.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
The highly-rated 19-year-old, who made his debut for the Socceroos last June, made the switch for an undisclosed transfer fee.
'Nestory can be a very special player and we believe he can realize his potential here, with us,' said Watford sporting director Gian Luca Nani.
We are delighted to confirm the arrival of exciting forward Nestory Irankunda on a long-term permanent deal from Bayern Munich.
Thrilled to have you with us, Nestory! pic.twitter.com/49Gx3svI8D
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) July 18, 2025
'Nestory was extremely sought-after and thanks to our established scouting network and connections we were able to be ahead of others in the race to sign players of this potential.'
Irankunda made his professional debut as a 15-year-old for Adelaide United during the 2021/22 season and came to prominence with an eye-catching performance playing for an A-League select side against Barcelona.
Born in Tanzania to parents from Burundi who moved to Australia when he was three months old, Irankunda chose to represent Australia at international level and was given his first cap by former coach Graham Arnold in June 2024.
He scored his first goal for the country later that month against Palestine in his second appearance for the Socceroos before completing a move to Bayern Munich in an A-League record deal.
He made his fifth appearance for Australia in a 3-1 win over China in October last year during Asia's World Cup preliminaries but has not been selected since by current coach Tony Popovic.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Piastri outpaces Verstappen in opening practice at Belgian GP
Piastri outpaces Verstappen in opening practice at Belgian GP

Arab News

time35 minutes ago

  • Arab News

Piastri outpaces Verstappen in opening practice at Belgian GP

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: Series leader Oscar Piastri outpaced defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull to top the times for McLaren in Friday's opening free practice at the Belgian Grand Prix. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The 24-year-old Australian, reacting positively to his disappointment at Silverstone where he was handed a controversial penalty, clocked a best lap in one minute and 42.022 seconds to beat the four-time champion by four-tenths of a second in a keenly-contested session. Verstappen was driving for the first time since Red Bull dismissed former boss Christian Horner two weeks earlier. Frenchman Laurent Mekies took his place on the pit wall. Piastri's McLaren team-mate Lando Norris was third ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and rookie Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari seventh. Lance Stroll was eighth for Aston Martin ahead of team-mate two-time champion Fernando Alonso and Racing Bulls' rookie Isack Hadjar and the two Williams drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. On a cool misty morning in the forests of the Ardennes, Antonelli set an fast lap before Norris and then Verstappen took command on mediums as the heavy mist began to lift with intermittent sunshine lighting up the majestic circuit. The champion remained in charge as he trimmed his time to 1:44.236 until Leclerc went quicker in 1:44.148, running his Ferrari on a hard compound tire as Hamilton, his team-mate, complained of instability and 'rear locking'. Norris, bidding for a third consecutive victory to overhaul Piastri in the title race, laughed at suggestions that he had developed a 'nose for success' — the scarred result of a facial injury suffered after winning the British Grand Prix. 'It's healing nicely,' he revealed. 'I had a professional repair job. If I ever want to look in the mirror and think of something great, I look at my nose!' His misfortune, when a photographer fell on him as a trackside fence collapsed, had no apparent effect on his upbeat mood at a circuit revered by the drivers. With 10 minutes remaining, as most teams switched to race simulation work, some took softs and this resulted in Stroll going top in 1:43.112, a full second faster than Leclerc's previous best to spark a spate of more late fast laps on softs. Piastri and Verstappen led the gang with the Australian going top in 1:42.123, half a second faster than the Red Bull driver who went second, before the Mercedes of Russell and Antonelli climbed to second and fourth on mediums. Norris made a mistake at Stavelot where he dropped two wheels into the gravel, as compatriot Oliver Bearman ran off, but he recovered to go third behind his McLaren team-mate and the Dutchman.

Joe Root becomes the 3rd highest scorer in test cricket against India
Joe Root becomes the 3rd highest scorer in test cricket against India

Al Arabiya

time2 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

Joe Root becomes the 3rd highest scorer in test cricket against India

Joe Root became the third highest run scorer in test cricket on Friday as he helped England reach 332-2, only 26 runs behind India. Root was 63 not out at lunch on day 3 of the fourth test at Old Trafford with Ollie Pope 70 not out. The 34-year-old Root overtook India's Rahul Dravid and South Africa's Jacques Kallis in overall runs scored. Root's current total is 13322, needing 57 more runs to overtake Australia's Ricky Ponting (13378) but still far behind first-placed Sachin Tendulkar (15921). Of more importance for England was a commanding opening session in Manchester with the host heading for a substantial first-innings lead and hoping to clinch the five-match series, which it currently leads 2-1. Resuming on 225-2 and replying to India's first innings of 358, Root and Pope were both on half centuries as the visitors struggled to have any impact with the ball. But Root's day could have ended early when he survived nearly being run out on 22 following a miscommunication with Pope that left him way out of position when Ravindra Jadeja tried to capitalize. Before that, Root narrowly avoided being out leg before wicket. England scored 107 off 28 overs in the morning session. England carried on its impressive batting from day 2 when it took control of the match with a blistering opening partnership of 166 by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store