Irankunda arrives in London ahead of Watford move
Australia winger Nestory Irankunda hopes his move to EFL Championship side Watford can see him make an impact and earn a spot in the Socceroos squad for next year's FIFA World Cup.
While the finer details of the transfer have not been made available, Irankunda is believed to have signed a four-year deal with the Hornets worth around £2.5 million ($5.1 million) after leaving Bayern Munich.
The teenager's transfer from Adelaide United to the German powerhouse was much hyped in Australia but he struggled to break through for a Bundesliga debut under Vincent Kompany and was loaned out to Grasshoppers in the Swiss Super League.
Irankunda made his Australia debut under former coach Graham Arnold last year, but since Tony Popovic took the Socceroos's reins, he has been overlooked.
"It was a very hard decision [to leave Bayern Munich] but for me, my biggest goal is to play in a [FIFA] World Cup and the 2026 [FIFA] World Cup is just around the corner," the 19-year-old told Sky Sports after arriving at London's Heathrow Airport on route for his medical at Watford.
"I have to be playing minutes and I wasn’t playing [in Germany]."
On his move to Watford, which finished mid-table last season, Irankunda said it had always been a dream to play in England.
"The Championship's also a world-class league and competition," he 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.
"I'm one of the players that can make the crowd go wild."
Popovic welcomed news of Irankunda's move.
"Hopefully this next move can develop him further, and whether that's an immediate impact with us or not, it gives him a better chance of course," he said.
Irankunda, who was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania to Burundian parents before moving to Australia as an infant, became the second-youngest player to score for the Socceroos in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Palestine in 2024.
Australia sealed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America last month with a win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.
