MUNICH (AP) - Debut day in the Bundesliga had a happy ending for United States midfielder Tyler Adams and Alphonso Davies, a rising Canadian star born in a refugee camp.
The 19-year-old Adams started for Leipzig in a 4-0 win at Fortuna Duesseldorf in the German league on Sunday, while Davies, 18, came on in the 86th minute in Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Stuttgart.
While Davies wasn’t given as much time to shine, Adams certainly took his chance, including a pass with his heel to Marcel Sabitzer just after the break.
Adams joined Leipzig on Jan. 1 from sister club New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. He made his U.S. national debut in November 2017 and has nine international appearances.
Davies’ appearance in Germany’s top flight continues a remarkable story. The forward was born in the Buduburam refugee camp west of Accra in Ghana to parents who had fled civil war in Monrovia, Liberia. They moved in 2006 when he was 5 to Edmonton, where Davies began playing soccer, first at school, then at a free after-school league for inner-city children.
Davies joined the Vancouver Whitecaps’ residency program when he was 14, going on to become the youngest player to appear in the United Soccer League and the first born this century to play in the MLS, aged 15 years, 8 months, 15 days. Only American Freddy Adu appeared at a younger age.
Davies did enough there for Bayern to sit up and take notice, agreeing to pay the Whitecaps a record $22 million for an MLS player.
“We’re proud of you, @AlphonsoDavies!” Bayern tweeted after his appearance on Sunday, posting a Canadian flag and hand-clapping emoji.
“Great result today….happy to make my Bundesliga debut,” Davies wrote on social media, adding two emojis showing flexed biceps.
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