Latest news with #NestoryIrankunda
Arab News
an hour ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Australia winger Irankunda completes Watford switch from Bayern Munich
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! — 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.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nestory Irankunda "could cry" as he is handed shirt number 66 for Watford
Nestory Irankunda reacted emotionally to being told he would be wearing the shirt number 66 for Watford. The Australia winger wore the number during his career breakthrough at Adelaide United and again on loan at Grasshopper Zurich last season – but, it appears, had not expected to be allowed to have it in the Championship. More: Watford reveal green away kit for 2025/26 Championship season A clip published on Watford social channels showed Irankunda – who completed a permanent move from Bayern Munich on Friday – receiving the news that the EFL had approved his choice, with a kit made for his unveiling to prove it. Irankunda said: "You're lying! "I could cry right now. It doesn't feel real, I thought they weren't going to approve. I can't wait. That's unreal." The Hornets believe Irankunda "can be a very special player", according to Sporting Director Gian Luca Nani, and is "exactly the sort of profile Paulo [Pezzolano] wanted in a winger." More: Watford should push to ensure Ashley Young celebrates at the Rookery End again He joins Kwadwo Baah, Rocco Vata and Othmane Maamma in Pezzolano's wide forward ranks. The 19-year-old signed for Bayern Munich last summer and spent six months there before a loan spell in Switzerland. Now he is a permanent Watford player – with a familiar number on his back.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Irankunda's move to England confirmed
Nestory Irankunda's move from Bayern Munich to Watford has been confirmed, with the former A-League prodigy signing a five-year deal with the English Championship club. Having spent the second half of last season on loan to Swiss club Grashoppers, Irankunda has now made a permanent move away from Germany after the Bundesliga champions and the Hornets agreed to the sale for a fee reportedly worth more than $5 million. 'Nestory can be a very special player and we believe he can realise his potential here with us,' Watford sporting director Gianluca Nani said of the 19-year-old winger. '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. 'Crucially, we were able to move quickly when opportunities like this arise and that's been the hallmark of our successful recruitment. 'The player wanted to come here as he sees the pathway. He has seen how we develop young players at Watford and the vision we have for this club. 'We are absolutely delighted to have signed Nestory and he's added further to the huge feel-good factor around the training ground.' Earlier in the week when Irankunda arrived in England for his medical with the club, he told Sky Sports he wanted to move to Watford to increase his hopes of playing for the Socceroos at next year's FIFA World Cup. 'It was a very hard decision (to leave Bayern Munich) but for me, my biggest goal is to play in a World Cup and the 2026 World Cup is just around the corner, so I have to be playing minutes and I wasn't playing (in Germany),' the former Adelaide United star said. 'The best thing for me was to go somewhere else. I'm excited and very happy with the opportunity I've been given and just ready to get started with the team.'
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Former A-League star Nestory Irankunda signs five-year deal with Watford
Nestory Irankunda's move from Bayern Munich to Watford has been confirmed, with the former A-League prodigy signing a five-year deal with the English Championship club. Having spent the second half of last season on loan to Swiss club Grashoppers, Irankunda has now made a permanent move away from Germany after the Bundesliga champions and the Hornets agreed to the sale for a fee reportedly worth more than $5 million. 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! 🇦🇰 — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) July 18, 2025 'Nestory can be a very special player and we believe he can realise his potential here with us,' Watford sporting director Gianluca Nani said of the 19-year-old winger. '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. 'Crucially, we were able to move quickly when opportunities like this arise and that's been the hallmark of our successful recruitment. 'The player wanted to come here as he sees the pathway. He has seen how we develop young players at Watford and the vision we have for this club. 'We are absolutely delighted to have signed Nestory and he's added further to the huge feel-good factor around the training ground.' Wholesome reaction 🥹 Behind-the-scenes out tomorrow 9am. — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) July 18, 2025 Earlier in the week when Irankunda arrived in England for his medical with the club, he told Sky Sports he wanted to move to Watford to increase his hopes of playing for the Socceroos at next year's FIFA World Cup. 'It was a very hard decision (to leave Bayern Munich) but for me, my biggest goal is to play in a World Cup and the 2026 World Cup is just around the corner, so I have to be playing minutes and I wasn't playing (in Germany),' the former Adelaide United star said.
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda signs five-year deal with Watford in move to Championship
English soccer fans can brace themselves for plenty of dazzling backflips after the young Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda secured a five-year deal with the Championship outfit Watford. The Hornets announced the signing on their website late Friday, with the club's sporting director Gian Luca Nani taking great pride in welcoming Irankunda. '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,' Nani said. 'Crucially, we were able to move quickly when opportunities like this arise and that's been the hallmark of our successful recruitment.' The news is sure to delight Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, with next year's World Cup in mind. Irankunda is an unquestionable talent but struggled to get game time at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Popovic spoke of wanting to see the 19-year-old playing consistently and developing more, and at Vicarage Road he is set to get that chance. 'Nestory can be a very special player and we believe he can realise his potential here,' Nani said. 'He is exactly the sort of profile Paulo (coach Paulo Pezzolano) wanted in a winger. 'The player wanted to come here as he sees the pathway, he has seen how we develop young players at Watford and the vision we have for this club. 'We are absolutely delighted to have signed Nestory and he's added further to the huge feelgood factor around the training ground. 'We're thrilled to have you with us, Nestory!' Named as one of 'top 50 wonderkids' in March last year, Irankunda was an unused substitute twice for Bayern – including in a UEFA Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk in December. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion The youngster, known for his exuberant backflips when celebrating a goal, made 15 appearances for the German side's second string and scored four goals before being handed the chance of top-flight football with a loan spell at Grasshopper Club Zurich. He played 19 times for the Swiss Super League side, scoring once. Irankunda first burst on to the scene at Adelaide United during the 2021/22 season, making his debut and scoring his first goal directly from a free-kick when he was just 15. He made 61 appearances for the club over three seasons, scoring 16 goals and jointly winning the A-League's Young Player of the Year award at the end of 2023/24. Irankunda has five Socceroos caps and scored his maiden international goal in the World Cup qualifier against Palestine in June last year under then coach Graham Arnold.
