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 goal.com’s “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.
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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.
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