Bayern Munich’s new No.10? Nathaniel Brown impresses in unfamiliar role
When Bayern Munich confirmed the signing of Morocco international Ismael Saibari on 1 July, few would have expected the record German champions to add another new No.10 to their star-studded squad less than 48 hours later.
And yet, in Germany international Nathaniel Brown, the Bundesliga title-holders appear to have gained another outstanding attacking midfield option to rival the likes of Saibari, Jamal Musiala and Lennart Karl for the central role behind striking sensation Harry Kane.
Brown, of course, is a left-back by trade, and was signed primarily to provide competition for Alphonso Davies on that side of Bayern’s steely back four. At least, that was the original plan.
The 23-year-old, though, has demonstrated his attacking abilities on a regular basis in recent seasons, both for former club Eintracht Frankfurt and with the German national team.
The former Nuremberg man registered seven goals and 12 assists in his two seasons with the Eagles, while he netted his first competitive goal and assist for his country against Curaçao at the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer.
Brown had already made several cameos at No.10 during pre-season, but it still came as something of a surprise to see him reprise that role in Bayern’s first competitive fixture of the new campaign – against Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.
“I don’t know whether that was the plan [all along],” Brown said after the game. “In the early games in particular, I thought I’d be used at left-back.”
If Brown was taken aback by his deployment in attacking midfield, he did not show it. After a quiet opening, Bayern’s summer signing marked his competitive debut for the club with the game’s opening goal, slotting home confidently from the edge of the penalty area after fine work from – who else? – Michael Olise.
The goal appeared to boost Brown’s confidence, as he then went agonisingly close to doubling his and Bayern’s tally before half-time with a low shot that whistled just wide of the upright. It did not prove a costly miss, though, as Olise struck in first-half stoppage time in an eventual 2-1 victory over Niko Kovač’s side.
Brown gave an honest assessment of his display after the final whistle, telling reporters that it took him a while to find his feet alongside Bayern’s formidable attacking triumvirate of Kane, Olise and Colombian star Luis Díaz.
“I didn’t get into the game very well,” he admitted. “But the goal helped me a bit and now I’m just delighted. When you score that goal, it’s just pure joy.”
Brown’s new colleagues, though, were mightily impressed with his display at Signal Iduna Park, given the magnitude of the fixture and the standard of the opposition.
“It was a great performance,” said Kane. “Obviously it isn’t his natural position, but he had spells there in pre-season. He’s a versatile player, and it’s great for him to have his first title at Bayern.”
Head coach Vincent Kompany, too, was encouraged by Brown’s showing, insisting that the Germany international could prove to be a natural fit for the No.10 role in years to come.
“Sometimes, the full-backs’ spaces are similar to those of a No.10,” Kompany explained in an interview with Sky Germany. “He is unbelievably good between the spaces, whether he plays as a full-back or as a No.10.”
It seems likely then, that Bundesliga fans will see a lot more of Brown as an attacking force this term, although it remains to be seen whether he will keep his place behind Kane in Bayern’s top-flight opener against VfB Stuttgart on Friday evening.
“Today, [fielding Brown as a No.10] helped us because Serge [Gnabry], Lennart and Jamal were missing,” said Kompany, who may have to do without the aforementioned attacking trio on Matchday 1.
Sidelined since April with a groin injury, Gnabry is unlikely to return to action until next month. Musiala is expected to resume full training this week, while Karl is also closing in on a return from the thigh injury which kept him out of the World Cup.
For now, though, Brown appears to be the frontrunner for the No.10 role against Sebastian Hoeneß’s men. Kompany, of course, may have one or two more attacking aces up his sleeve, but why change a winning formula?
