Bayern Munich youth player Grayson Dettoni has been called up to represent the USA U19s. bundesliga.com profiles the teenaged defender...

Data correct as of 8 January 2023

Grayson Dettoni

Age: 17
Club: Bayern Munich (U19s)
Position: Centre-back
Country: USA

Key stats

Virginia-born Dettoni started out at Californian youth outfit San Diego Surf, before moving to Germany at the age of 10. After roughly two years in the youth ranks of 1860 Munich, the American joined Bayern, where he has worked his way up the ladder from the U13s team, via the U16s and 17s, to the U19s.

Dettoni had made eight appearances in the U19s Bundesliga, as well as a further two in the UEFA Youth League, prior to his call-up to the US U19s' January 2023 training camp in Miami, Florida. Like all his teammates on the roster, he is age-eligible for the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia. The 6'3" right-footed defender, who is of Italian descent, has a contract with Bayern through to summer 2024.

Translation: Bayern have extended the contracts of three youth players. Leon Markert (17) and Grayson Dettoni (17) are tied to FCB until 2024, Liul Broke Alemu (17) will stay a Munich player until 2025.

Plays a bit like: Niklas Süle

Tall and physical, a good reader of the game and comfortable moving the ball out from the back, there's a touch of Borussia Dortmund and Germany international defender Niklas Süle about young Dettoni. The American's career has taken a similar path to the former Bayern sentry, too...

Did you know?

Like Süle, Dettoni started out as an attacking player, before being converted to a defender at 1860 Munich.

"In California, I was a winger and a striker for my Surf team, but as soon as I arrived in Germany at my new club TSV 1860 Munich, they put me in the back line as a right-back and centre-back," he recalled in interview with Bavarian Football Works.

|At the time, I was also growing a lot and so I was one of the taller boys on my team. That's the way I started playing defence and now today I would fully call myself a center back. Passing has always been one of my strengths and so moving from a winger/striker to a defender who has to make difficult passes out the back was perfect for me."

Dettoni has consistently played above of his age group at Bayern. - Imago

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What they're saying

"This is a huge deal for me. The U19 years are considered 'pro' years and the most important years of development. I’m at one of the biggest clubs in the world and I’m very honoured to be there another two years." - Dettoni after signing a contract extension with Bayern in June 2022

"Grayson - like many other San Diego players - was athletic, physical, technically good, and a smart decision-maker. However, Grayson's focus and devotion to training has allowed him to flourish and become a successful young player in Europe." - Ryan Guy, San Diego Surf assistant director of coaching

About the clubs

FC Bayern München

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