Augsburg’s Noahkai Banks on choosing the USA over Germany, learning against Michael Olise and always believing he could make it
In what has proven to be a challenging season, the rise of centre-back Noahkai Banks has been a rare ray of light for Augsburg fans.
Still just 19, he has already established himself as a regular starter in Manuel Baum's side. Following in the footsteps of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Giovanni Reyna, Banks is just the latest American talent to make his name in the Bundesliga.
However, unlike the aforementioned US stars, who started their careers stateside, his footballing journey has always existed between continents.
“My dad is American. He lives in Washington, D.C.,” Banks told media in a recent interview. “My mum was studying in the US, they met there, lived in Hawaii, and that’s where I was born. I lived in D.C. until I was four or five, then my parents split up, and I moved to Germany with my mum.”
Germany became home, but America never felt distant. Regular visits to see his father and extended family ensured both cultures remained central to his upbringing.
With an American father and a mother who is half-German, half-Spanish, Banks grew up with multiple identities - something that would later shape one of the most important decisions of his young career.
The influence of both his parents remains strong, despite the geographical distance. Confidence, in particular, appears to stem from his upbringing. Instilled in him by his mother from an early age, it’s kept his footballing dream well within reach: “To be honest, I was always very confident. I think I have that from my mum. I always believed I could play in the Bundesliga."
That confidence has been tested - and refined - during a breakthrough Bundesliga campaign in which Banks has started 15 matches, often under intense pressure as his side battles to pull clear of the relegation zone. For a teenager making the jump from fourth-tier football, the margin for error is unforgiving.
Watch: The Bundesliga's best Americans
“In the Bundesliga, every mistake gets punished,” he said. “When you play against someone like [Bayern Munich's] Michael Olise, it’s completely different from playing against a fourth-division player. If your positioning is wrong, he’s gone, and it’s probably a goal.”
It’s here, in the small details, where Banks believes he has grown the most. Positioning, awareness, decision-making - lessons learned not only in the Bundesliga, but also on the international stage. His first senior call-up to the US Men’s National Team came at just 18, and with it, the chance to work under former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain boss, Mauricio Pochettino. The nerves were immediate.
“I was pretty nervous when I got into camp,” Banks admits. “I thought maybe the older guys would think, ‘Who’s that?’ - but it was incredible.”
Rather than feeling out of place, Banks found himself embraced by senior figures like Pulisic and Tim Weah, while fellow centre-back Tim Ream took him under his wing from day one. “He [Ream] helped me a lot because he plays in my position,” Banks says. “He coached me through training, helped me with tactics, and made it easier to settle in.”
Working with Pochettino, however, left a particularly strong impression. A former centre-back himself, the Argentine coach focused on the subtleties that separate potential from consistency. “He knows the position very well,” Banks says. “He helped me with small details like positioning, the small things that make the difference at the highest level. He gave me tips, and I hope I can use them going forward.”
Despite occasional contact with Germany’s FA, as he is still eligible to represent the country where he grew up, Banks has never wavered in his commitment to the US. From U17 level upwards, the national team has felt more like a second family to him than a professional obligation.
“I was always very happy with the US,” he explains. “From U17s to U20s, it felt like meeting friends and playing football together. The U17 World Cup was one of the best experiences of my life.” For now, that path remains clear. “I’m happy with the US. You never know what the future brings.”
Back in the Bundesliga, moments of affirmation have been frequent this season. His first start, against Wolfsburg back in October of last year, saw him score just minutes into the match. With Augsburg going on to win the game 3-1, it remains an unforgettable day for him and his family. “The emotions were crazy,” he says. “My mum was sitting in the first row. I saw her crying after the goal. It was one of the best moments of my life.”
Despite the success, Banks is keenly aware that his place in the starting XI is earned week by week, not guaranteed by reputation or age. “It just shows how good a team we are,” he says. “Everybody deserves to play, but it can only be 11. When I saw I was starting after the win at Bayern [having missed that game through suspension], I was very happy. It showed the coach trusts me.
"I [now] have to pay that back. It has been a great year so far because I didn't expect to play that much, to be absolutely honest with you. The coaches have given me a lot of trust, a lot of minutes.”
Watch: Banks scored his only Bundesliga goal in a win over Wolfsburg in October 2025
Trust, after all, has been a theme throughout his journey. As a child, he was once told by scouts that he wouldn’t make it to the professional ranks. One coach, however, saw something the scouts didn’t. “Because of him [the coach], I’m here,” Banks says. “I’m extremely thankful.”
That gratitude now fuels his approach to this season's Bundesliga relegation fight. Despite brief highs, such as the side’s 2-1 away win against Bayern last month - where Banks was absent - it’s been a tough campaign for all concerned with the Fuggerstädter.
As things stand, Augsburg are three points above Werder Bremen, who occupy the relegation play-off spot. Nevertheless, Banks is taking the dogfight in his stride, with an enduring belief that his team will finish the season well.
“We don’t really feel that stress,” he insists. “We know what we’re capable of. But every game is a fight. Even the big teams struggle in this league.”
Whatever happens this season, the future looks bright for Banks, who could yet make Pochettino’s FIFA World Cup squad this summer. For the time being, though, his sole focus is on Augsburg.
Banks concludes: “For me, it's really important to focus on the games ahead, because I know if I play well, the rest will come by itself. So it's really about focusing on the next game for me and playing as well as possible, because the rest will follow. My main focus is to finish the season strong."
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