Arijon Ibrahimović: Who is Bayern Munich's teenaged wonderkid?
Bayern Munich wonderkid Arijon Ibrahimović has the world at his feet. bundesliga.com has the lowdown on the teenaged midfielder, who signed a contract extension with the Bavarian giants until 2027.
Data correct as of 2 July 2024
Arijon Ibrahimović
Age: 18 (born 11 December 2005)
Club: Bayern Munich
Position: Attacking midfield
Country: Germany (U19 - one cap)
Key stats
Born in Nuremberg to Kosovan parents in 2005, Ibrahimović - who has no relation to Sweden star Zlatan - made his first steps in club football at Greuther Fürth. In 2014, aged nine, Ibrahimović moved across town to join Nuremberg to continue his youth development. After only four years there, Bavaria's biggest club came knocking and he joined Bayern.
Since being a part of the youth set-up at Bayern's campus, Ibrahimović has developed into one of the most highly regarded young talents at the club, quickly climbing through the age groups. The teen made his debut for Bayern's U17 team aged just 14, scoring twice and assisting three times in five appearances in 2020/21. And despite being only turning 16 in December 2021, he was promoted to the U19 team that same year. In 2022/23, Ibrahimovic continued to impress; scoring 13 times in 11 outings for the U19s and going on to make a further nine appearances for Bayern's reserves, registering three goal and four assists.
His name came into sharper focus when he trained with former Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann's first-team squad during pre-season ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. Ibrahimović took to the pitch against the likes of Dayot Upamecano and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, and even scored during a training match.
As soon as he became eligible to be included in a Bundesliga matchday squad upon turning 16, Ibrahimović was named among the substitutes in the 2-1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 18 of 2021/22. He trained with the first team at regular intervals thereafter and was promoted to the first team upon signing a contract extension through to 2025. He made his Bundesliga debut for the Bavarian giants when coming on as a substitute for Leroy Sane in the Matchday 20 encounter against Bochum.
A loan spell at Serie A side Frosinone Calcio followed in 2023/24, with the teen making a solid impression with the Italians. In his 18 appearances for the club, Ibrahimović scored twice and provided one assist. Soon after his return to Bavaria, he signed a contract extension that runs until 2027 with Bayern, with the club announcing plans to include their exciting youngster in new coach Vincent Kompany's plans for the 2024/25 campaign.
Plays a bit like: Leon Goretzka
A box-to-box midfielder who is just as happy to do the dirty work in defence as he is to race forward and support attack, Ibrahimović has been likened to Bayern's industrious Germany international Leon Goretzka.
Want more Bundesliga Action?
Ibrahimović has displayed outstanding technical skills on the ball, as well as in-game intelligence in terms of pressing and positioning which have impressed his coaches at the home of the record Bundesliga champions.
Did you know?
The young Ibrahimović is well aware of his namesake in Zlatan, and has described both the Swede and Cristiano Ronaldo as his idols. The 18-year-old showed his similar mentality to Zlatan in an Instagram post, with a quote akin to that one famously said by the former AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona, PSG and Manchester United striker: "Lions do not compare themselves to humans."
This post instead reads: "The tiger and the lion may be stronger. But the wolf doesn't perform in the circus."
What they're saying
"Arijon Ibrahimović was able to gain valuable experience at the age of just 17 last season – not just on the pitch – at Frosinone Calcio, in one of Europe's top leagues. That's brought him on enormously and now he's getting the chances to impress in our first team. Arijon can play in every position in attack, has a strong mentality and always a good drive towards goal." - Christoph Freund, Bayern sporting director
"I've played (at Bayern) since my youth. The season in the Italian Serie A brought me forward as a person and a footballer and I learned a lot. I want to keep improving, give everything for my team and the club, and win lots of titles with FC Bayern." - Ibrahimović speaks after agreeing new terms at Bayern in July 2024.
Related news
Bayern Campus bearing first-team fruit
Der Rekordmeister's academy complex, which opened in 2017, is producing a wealth of potential stars of the future.
Who will be the Bundesliga's next breakout star?
Ahead of the upcoming Bundesliga season, bundesliga.com takes a look at the bright young stars looking to take the next step and make a name for themselves as top flight regulars.
The next big thing?
The lowdown on the the up-and-coming Bundesliga stars hoping to make a splash in 2024/25...