Nestory Irankunda: The Australian Football Prodigy Making Waves in European Football

A Rising Star’s Journey

Born in Kigoma, Tanzania, to Burundian parents who fled civil war, Nestory Irankunda’s story began in a refugee camp. His family later moved to Perth, Australia when he was just three months old, before settling in Adelaide’s northern suburbs in 2013.

Finding his love for football while playing with his brothers in their yard, Irankunda’s formal journey began at age eight with Parafield Gardens. He later moved to Adelaide Croatia Raiders before joining Adelaide United in 2021, where he signed his first scholarship contract and made his league debut in January 2022, quickly becoming the second-youngest goalscorer in competition history.

Record-Breaking Success

Irankunda has achieved remarkable success early in his career, scoring nine goals in his A-Leagues career before turning 18 – breaking the previous record set by Toure (seven goals). This achievement puts him alongside Nathan Burns for the most goals scored by any player before turning 20 in the competition’s history.

Bayern Munich Journey

In a significant career move, Irankunda officially signed with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. Due to FIFA regulations preventing his move to Europe before his 18th birthday in February, he initially completed the season with Adelaide.

After joining Bayern Munich, Irankunda was loaned to Grasshopper Zürich, where he contributed with 1 goal and 3 assists in 19 games, helping the team avoid relegation from the Swiss Super League.

International Recognition

Ranked among the top 100 Under-20 players worldwide in 2025 by CIES Football Observatory, Irankunda chose to represent Australia internationally, despite being eligible for Tanzania or Burundi. His international career has been noteworthy, helping lead Australia U17 to qualification for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup and becoming the second-youngest Australian to score in a FIFA World Cup qualification match.

Future Prospects

Bayern Munich’s swift move to secure Irankunda ahead of English and Italian clubs demonstrates his potential, particularly after his impressive performances for Adelaide United, where he became known for spectacular, last-gasp winning goals.