<p><meta charset="utf-8"><meta charset="utf-8"></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Known for his explosive pace, fearless attacking mindset, and the ability to change a game in an instant, Nestory Irankunda has been developing into a dynamic talent in Australian football. Irankunda represents a new wave of Socceroos talent built on flair and attacking intent.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Originally born in Kigoma, Tanzania, Irankunda rose from a refugee camp to Burundian parents. His family fled conflict and moved to Perth when he was three months old before settling in Adelaide in 2013.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">He played his junior football for the Adelaide Croatia Raiders before joining the South Australian NPL Adelaide United’s Young Reds and Reserves sides and would sign a scholarship contract to transition from their pathways to the A-League team at just 15 years old.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Making his debut one month before he turned 16 in 2022 with Adelaide United, he became one of the youngest scorers in A-League history, and would become a regular scorer and joint record holder for most goals by a player before turning 20.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">In June 2024, he would make his Socceroos debut, starting in a World Cup qualification match against Bangladesh at 18 years of age and score the first goal before being substituted, becoming one of the youngest goal scorers in the nation’s history.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">He would sign with Bayern Munich in late 2023, breaking A-League transfer records. Primarily starting for their reserve team in mid 2024 (Bayern Munich II), he impressed with his pace and scoring ability, and was even called up to train with their senior team.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">In the beginning of January 2025, he would be loaned to Grasshopper Club Zurich by Bayern Munich for a six month spell until June last year. He would be named Player of the Month in February.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">After a lack of playing time with Bayern Munich, he would sign a five-year contract in June of 2025 for Watford FC in the English Championship competition, where he would develop and start to establish himself as a right-winger starter as he has desire to gain regular minutes for the 2026 World Cup.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The transition to European football allowed the 20-year-old to refine his raw attributes and balance between being tactically aware and have high-IQ decision making while maintaining the attacking freedom that makes him so dangerous.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">In terms of what to expect in the upcoming World Cup, Irankunda shapes as a potential x-factor for Australia, to play a potential impact role off the bench. He thrives in one-on-one environments and isn’t afraid of taking risks, which could be qualities needed in tight matches at both club and international level.&nbsp;</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:4pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#00549e;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Nestory Irankunda Player Profile</span></h2><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Name</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">: Nestory Irankunda.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>D.O.B:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> 9/02/2006.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Age:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> 20.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Height:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> 175cm.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Weight:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> 73kg.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Position:&nbsp;</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Right Wing</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Preferred Foot:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> Right.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Current Club:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Watford FC</span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">,&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">English League Championship</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Socceroos debut:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> 06/06/2024 vs Bangladesh</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Cap Number:&nbsp;</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">#643</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Jersey Number:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> #20</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Born:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> Kigoma, Tanzania</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"><strong>Raised:</strong></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#111111;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> Perth, Western Australia &amp; Adelaide, South Australia.</span></p>