Alphonso Davies lands in Germany, participates in first training session with Bayern Munich

The first day of Alphonso Davies’ new life in Europe is in the books.

Davies will officially become a Bayern Munich player on Jan. 1, 2019 after agreeing to an MLS and Canadian record transfer from the Vancouver Whitecaps in July. However, the 18-year-old Canadian international landed in Germany on Tuesday for a month-long training stint ahead of his official move to Bayern. 

On Wednesday morning, Davies participated in his first training session with his new club. 

“My first impressions of the training ground were great,” said Davies. “As a kid I dreamed of being part of such a big club.

“Now I am and it’s unbelievable. I’m very excited and looking forward to my time. I want to prove myself every day in training and work hard.”

The teenager burst onto the scene last year when he became the first player born in the 2000s to score at a major international tournament as he captured the Golden Boot award at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He continued his meteoric rise this season with the Whitecaps, scoring eight goals and adding 11 assists and earning a spot in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game. His exploits with Canada and the Whitecaps drew the attention of Bayern, which agreed to a $13 million (U.S.) base transfer fee for Davies’ rights, with performance bonuses potentially increasing the total of the deal to $22 million.

With a budding sense of occasion, Davies scored twice for the Whitecaps in his farewell match in Vancouver on Oct. 28.

The teenager headed to Munich directly from St. Kitts and Nevis, where he helped Canada secure a 1-0 victory over the Caribbean country in CONCACAF Nations League qualification. Some of his Canadian teammates were among the many on social media who wished the youngster luck on his European adventure.