Bayern Munich defender Alfonso Davies (23) is set to join Real Madrid.
“Real have reached a verbal agreement with Davies to sign him in 2024 or 2025,” Mario Cortegana of The Athletic in England reported on June 26 (ET).
Davies is a Canadian left back. Davies moved to Canada at the age of five and officially became a Canadian citizen in 2017. He joined the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2015 and made his MLS debut in 2016 before turning 16.
Davies broke several records in his rookie season with the Whitecaps. He became the first player born in the 2000s in MLS, the youngest player to make his debut for the Canadian national team at 16 years, 7 months, and 12 days, and the youngest player to score for the Canadian national team at 16 years, 8 months, and 5 days. Davis also became the first player born in the 2000s to score an international goal.
After breaking records in Vancouver, Davies moved to Munich in 2018, one of the best clubs in the world. The transfer fee was $13.5 million, or $22 million with options. It broke the MLS transfer fee record.
Davies made his first-team debut for Munich at the age of 18. He appeared in six Bundesliga games in the 2018-19 season. He made his official debut as a 41st-minute substitute in a league home game against VfB Stuttgart and scored his first goal in the 26th round against Mainz.
Since the 2019-20 season, Davies has been a regular in the team’s starting lineup. He had a breakout season with three goals and five assists in 29 Bundesliga games, as well as eight UEFA Champions League appearances and five DFB-Pokal appearances, helping the team win the treble.
Davies, who became the youngest defender ever to win the award and the first Canadian to do so, followed it up the following season with an assist in the DFL-Supercup, while also reaching the top of the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. He also dominated the Bundesliga, winning seven trophies in two years.
For his performances, Davies was named to the 2020 FIFA FIFPro World XI. He was also named to the 2020 UEFA Team of the Year and has won numerous titles with Munich, including five Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals, three DFL-Supercups, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Club World Cup.
This season, however, Davies has been disappointing in Munich. He has one goal and three assists in 18 Bundesliga games, but his defensive performances have left much to be desired. Add to that the fact that he demanded a whopping €15 million in salary during the renewal process.
Moreover, the transfer rumors have been rampant. Real have recently approached Davies to strengthen their left-back ranks, and according to German Sky Sports‘ Florian Platenberg, “Munich don’t want to match his salary. Davies is very likely to join Real,” said Florian Platenberg.
The fans stopped the press play and demanded that he leave Munich and join Real immediately. To make matters worse, Davies has even finalized a personal agreement with Real and is preparing for a summer move. Recently, Davies suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss three consecutive games starting in the 21st round.
However, the move won”t happen immediately. Davies signed a new five-year contract with Munich in April 2020 and will not become a free agent in the summer. ”At the latest, he will join Real in 2025, when his contract with Munich expires,” Cortegana said.
“The transfer process has evolved in recent weeks, with several talks taking place, including a face-to-face meeting in Madrid in mid-February. He now favors a move to Real despite interest from Barcelona. Munich want to sign him to an extension and don’t want to let him go as a free agent. If they can’t re-sign him, they will try to sell him in the summer and get the money,” he added.