Alphonso Davies will be 18 when he joins Bayern Munich in January, but the Canadian wonderkid is ready for his leap to one of Europe’s top clubs.
17-year-old Alphonso Davies is one of the best talents to come out of Canada in recent years. If he continues his development, he could easily become the greatest Canadian to ever play the game. A big move to Bayern Munich, which will take place this winter, provides him the perfect opportunity to take that next big step in his career.
If his exploits with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps are anything to judge by, it might not take long for Davies to become a hit in the Bavarian capital. Before today, he had scored 6 goals and assisted 11 more in 30 appearances this season and was named the Vancouver Whitecaps player of the season.
He didn’t stop there, though. Today he ended his Whitecaps career in perfect fashion, scoring two goals in his farewell match against Portland Timbers from the right wing, giving the Bayern faithful a small glimpse of his potential to become the long-term successor to Arjen Robben.
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The big jump from MLS to Germany’s best club is no small feat, but it’s one Davies believes he’s ready to make. He’s particularly excited to get his chance in Europe’s top competition, the UEFA Champions League.
"“I can’t wait to play for Bayern, and play in the UEFA Champions League.“Whoever made that competition is a brilliant guy. Having the top teams from Spain, England, Germany – all of Europe – play against each other, it’s exciting to watch.” (Daily Hive via Bundesliga.com)"
Davies signed for Bayern back in July but was allowed to finish his season with Vancouver Whitecahps, meaning he’ll join the club in January. He’s still a few days off from turning 18-years-old anyway, so a move to the first team wouldn’t have been possible in the summer anyway.
Though there’s been no official word, it’s likely Davies will move to Munich and begin training with his new teammates before January. He’ll likely take a few weeks off to spend time with family before transitioning to Germany.
Having grown up in Edmonton and spent years playing in Vancouver, the weather shouldn’t prove an obstacle for the young Canadian. However, the language barrier could prove difficult to overcome. By his own admittance, Davies’ knowledge of German is non-existent, though he has begun learning the language. Even so, many of Bayern’s players are fluent enough in English to help make the youngsters transition a little bit easier.
Between veteran duo Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, and youngsters Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry, Davies will have some tough competition for a spot on Bayern’s wings. But given the injury record of each of his new teammates, it probably won’t take long for Davies to be handed his first opportunity in the Bavarian capital.