Bayern Munich are expected to complete a deal to sign 18-year-old American forward Bajung Darboe from LAFC.
Darboe is yet to make a senior MLS appearance. He was born in Gambia but has represented the USMNT at U17 level and, if an agreement can be finalised, will likely move to Bayern in January 2025.
The winger previously trained with the Bundesliga club in 2022, as a 15-year-old, when he was still a Philadelphia Union player, before moving to LAFC in 2023.
Darboe would be viewed as a developmental prospect. If an agreement can be finalised, he would initially join Bayern’s U19 squad and be eligible to represent the club’s second team, who play in the fourth tier of German football.
It’s a familiar path for US prospects. In July 2018, Chris Richards left FC Dallas to join Bayern on a similar deal, having previously spent time on loan in Bavaria.
Richards was part of the Bayern II team that won the 3.Liga in 2020, in a team which included Jamal Musiala, the current Bayern and German national team star.
Richards made his debut for the club’s senior team in January 2020, during the same season, before moving to Crystal Palace in 2022 for €12million.
(Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
