Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich | Age: 18 | Nationality: German | Goals: 2
Jamal Musiala is a young and dynamic player who has already established himself as one to watch. The 18-year-old rising Bundesliga star is already a senior Germany international and forms a crucial part of FC Bayern München’s attack. Having already set a number of records, Musiala – and Bayern’s – future looks promising!
Musiala was born in Fulda – a central German city just north east of Frankfurt – but spent much of his childhood in England, where he and his family moved when he was seven. The attacking midfielder spent four months with Southampton before being spotted by Chelsea – just one year after arriving in the country – and signed to a scholarship. His progress was swift, and Musiala made his league debut for Chelsea’s U18 team aged just 15 years, two months and 13 days.
While catching eyes throughout the Chelsea academy, Musiala was also making waves on the international scene. He played for the England U15 team aged just 13 and continued to represent the country at U16 level. He then made two appearances for the country of his birth, Germany, and their U16 team in October 2018. Musiala subsequently featured in eight appearances for England’s U17 side, scoring in his first two outings, and is now capped up to U21 level with the Three Lions.
Alongside Bright Arrey-Mbi, Musiala joined Bayern from English Premier League side Chelsea last summer, aged just 16. His progression has duly picked up where it had left off in the English capital. The teen averaged a goal or assist every 105 minutes as a member of Bayern’s U17 squad before being promptly promoted to the U19s. Eight appearances later, he was bumped up a class to Bayern’s reserve squad before the coronavirus pandemic.
After the league resumed, Musiala made his professional debut in the German third tier for Bayern’s second team, and even scored a brace in his second outing. He came off the bench against FSV Zwickau to become the league’s second-youngest scorer of all time and on Matchday 33 of the Bundesliga season, Musiala came off the bench against Freiburg to become Bayern’s youngest-ever player in the Bundesliga at just 17 years and 115 days old.
He followed that by becoming the Bavarian club’s all-time youngest goalscorer, smashing the record set by an 18-year-old Roque Santa Cruz, with the eighth goal in an 8-0 win over Schalke on the opening day of the 2020/21 season, aged 17 years and 205 days.
