Augsburg’s Noahkai Banks earns first USMNT call-up for September friendlies
Augsburg centre-back Noahkai Banks has received his first call-up to the USMNT’s roster for September’s friendly matches against South Korea and Japan.
The 18-year-old defender was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to an American father and German mother, but grew up with the latter in the town of Dietmannsried in Germany. He has represented the USA at youth level since the U17s and is now set to be given his first taste of senior international football.
Banks has been on the books at Augsburg since the age of nine and made his first-team debut against VfB Stuttgart in January. The 6’4’’ defender has so far made eight Bundesliga appearances, averaging 78 touches per 90 minutes, and is seen in Augsburg as evidence of their improving youth development work.
“Noahkai showed on his Bundesliga debut and in the second half of last season that he possesses lots of potential. He’s shown that he can succeed in professional football. His performances, especially at such a young age, have led to him catching the eye,” said Augsburg CEO Michael Ströll when Banks penned a new contract through to 2027 in June.
Amidst a potential tug-of-war over the international future of the rising star, he has now committed to the USA and could earn his first senior caps against South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey and Japan in Colombus, Ohio.
Talking of his squad, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino said that this was “the last camp to see new faces” as attentions turn to preparing for next summer’s FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US.
Banks is one of four uncapped players in the initial 22-man roster which features a number of former Bundesliga players in goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, defender Chris Richards, midfielders Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams and forwards Damion Downs and Josh Sargent.
Banks was an unused substitute as Augsburg kicked off the season with a 3-1 win at Freiburg. Banks’ last game before the September international is the big regional derby at home to Bayern Munich on Saturday.
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