New Watford signing Nestory Irankunda reveals why he left Bayern Munich, his ‘biggest goal’ is clear

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Australian wonderkid Nestory Irankunda is set to leave Vincent Kompany’s Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich for Championship side Watford.

In the wake of their disappointing finish in the 2024/25 Championship campaign, Watford are cementing themselves as top-six contenders amid their stellar summer transfer window business.

Watford sacked Tom Cleverley after falling short last term, and the Hornets replaced the now-Plymouth Argyle boss with Paulo Pezzolano.

Within the Uruguayan’s first weeks in post, Watford have signed several players to pad Pezzolano’s squad out with quality.

After reports emerged earlier in the week that the Hornets were poised to sign Nestory Irankunda from Bayern Munich, the Australian starlet himself has now revealed why he has left the Allianz for Vicarage Road.

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Nestory Irankunda reveals why he left Bayern Munich to sign for Watford

Watford were closing in on Irankunda on Tuesday, and the young forward landed in England this week to finalise his move.

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg also explained on X that Bayern are set to receive around a £2.6m fee, and have also secured a 50 percent sell-on clause and a buy-back clause within the Irankunda transfer.

Amid his imminent arrival to Watford, Irankunda has revealed why he left German giants Bayern Munich to join Pezzolano’s Hornets.

Irankunda told Sky Sports News: “That was a very hard decision but, obviously for me, my biggest goal is to play in the World Cup,

“The 2026 World Cup is round the corner, so I have to be playing minutes and I wasn’t playing at all, so the best thing for me was to go.

“Obviously, the Championship is also a world-class league, so for me it’s always been a dream of mine to eventually be able to play in England.

“For me, I’m going to work hard, work hard with the team, once I get to the training ground and try to get a spot on the team to play.”

With the 19-year-old being a raw prospect as of now, and the sizeable clauses which benefit Bayern within the deal, the Hornets faithful could be forgiven for being alarmed by the deal.

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Watford are taking two risks with signing of Nestory Irankunda from Bayern Munich

EFL Analysis tipped Watford for a top-six finish next season in Pezzolano’s maiden campaign in charge at Vicarage Road, and his promotion prospects could be boosted with Watford’s latest double transfer decision.

Despite the club’s stellar business so far this summer, including Watford’s windfall from Joao Pedro’s Chelsea transfer, the acquisition of Irankunda is a risk on two fronts for the club.

With the glass half full, if Irankunda sets the Championship alight during his first season at the Hornets and is then sold by Watford, their eventual healthy profit will be cut in half as a result of Bayern’s aforementioned 50% sell-on clause.

With the glass half empty, however, shelling out a £2.6m fee for a 19-year-old forward who scored only one goal in 21 appearances on loan at Swiss Super League side Grasshopper last term is a risky bit of business from the Hornets hierarchy.

Given his inexperience and unproven goal record at senior level, Irankunda is not a dead cert to hit the ground running at Watford next season.

Pezzolano will certainly be hoping the Australian can prove any doubters wrong by helping to fire Watford towards a top-six finish and secure his place in the Socceroos squad, in what could be the best Championship season yet.