Bayern Munich have made a significant move in strengthening their youth ranks by signing United States youth international Bajung Darboe from Los Angeles FC (LAFC). The German giants announced on Wednesday that the 18-year-old attacking midfielder has joined the club on a long-term contract and will initially be integrated into their reserve team.
The promising youngster, who is yet to make his senior MLS debut, expressed his excitement about the move. "A big dream has come true for me. It's nice to see where my path has taken me," Darboe said. Despite battling jet lag, he emphasized his readiness to begin this new chapter, stating, "It was always a big wish of mine to get to pull on the shirt of this great club one day. The fact it's happened now fills me with a lot of pride."
Darboe's journey to Bayern Munich is particularly interesting given his background. Born in Gambia, he has developed his skills through various American youth systems, including stints at Minnesota United and Philadelphia Union before joining LAFC in 2023. The versatile player, who can operate as both an attacking midfielder and winger, has already earned two caps with the U.S. under-17 national team.
This move doesn't mark Darboe's first interaction with Bayern Munich. He previously trained with the Bundesliga club in 2022 as a 15-year-old while still with Philadelphia Union, suggesting the German club has been monitoring his progress for some time.
The path from American soccer to Bayern Munich has proven successful before, as demonstrated by Chris Richards' trajectory. Richards made a similar move from FC Dallas to Bayern in July 2018, eventually breaking into the first team and playing alongside current Bayern star Jamal Musiala in the reserve team that won the 3.Liga in 2020. Richards' subsequent €12million transfer to Crystal Palace in 2022 illustrates the potential career pathway for young American talents at Bayern Munich.
