Top 20 Interesting Facts about Alphonso Davies

Top 20 Interesting Facts about Alphonso Davies

*Originally published by Kenneth K in November 2023 and Updated by Kenneth K in January 2024

In the modern game, fullbacks seem to be the stars and most crucial players on the field. Players such as Reece James (Chelsea), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Cancelo (Barcelona), and Alphonso Davies are world-renowned fullbacks.

Alphonso Davies is a Canadian professional football player currently playing at Bayern Munich. He is utilized primarily as a left-back at Bayern. However, while on international duty, he is deployed as a winger at times. Much like his predecessor at Bayern, David Alaba, for his country Austria.

Davies is an explosive player ranked among the fastest footballers in all of Europe. His dribbling ability and creativity allow him to be utilized effectively as a forward sometimes. Making him one of the best full-backs in the game right now.

Below are some interesting facts about the career and life of Alphonso Davies.

1. Born in A Ghanaian Refugee Camp

Buduburam refugee camp, July 2005 by Acarvin – Wikimedia Commons

On November 2nd, 2000, Alphonso Boyle Davies was born in Buduburam, Ghana. Buduburam is a refugee camp founded West of Accra, Ghana.

Davies’ parents are Liberians who had fled from Liberia following the Second Liberia Civil War. Originally, they lived in Liberia’s Capital, Monrovia.

His father is called Debeah Davies while his mother is known as Victoria Davies. Davies is the third child in a family with six children.

2. Moved to Canada in 2005

In 2005, the entire Davies family moved to Canada as his parents found ‘greener pastures’ in Canada. Eventually, the family settled in Edmonton, the capital of the Alberta Province.

While living in Edmonton Davies attended St. Nicholas Catholic Junior High. According to his schoolmates, Soccer (football) was something that Davies was interested in for as long as they’d known him.

With Free Footie, Davies first participated in a soccer league. For inner-city elementary school students who couldn’t afford registration costs and equipment or who didn’t have access to transportation to games, there was an after-school soccer league.

3. Joined Whitecaps FC Academy In 2015

After moving to Canada, Davies played for Edmonton Internationals and Edmonton Strikers from 2006 to 2015. In 2015, at age 14, Davies left home, Edmonton, alone and moved to Vancouver to join the Whitecaps FC Residency program. As part of the program, he attended Burnaby Central Secondary School.

4. Youngest Player to Sign A USL Contract

Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Alphonso Davies by Canada Soccer – Wikimedia Commons

After joining Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Davies remained in their academy until February 2016. This was when he was signed to Whitecaps FC 2 which was playing in the United Soccer League (USL).

After signing with Whitecaps FC 2, he became the youngest player under contract in the USL. He was 15 years and 3 months old at the time of signing.

In April 2016 he made his debut at 15 years and 5 months old. A month later, on May 15th, he scored his first goal for Whitecaps FC 2. This made him the youngest goal scorer in the USL at the time (15 years, 6 months). The record was broken in 2020 by Felipe Valencia of Fort Lauderdale CF.

5. Second Youngest Player to Play In the MLS

After impressing with Whitecaps FC 2, Davies was named on the Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s roster. He made his first team debut in the first leg of the Canadian Championship against Ottawa Fury FC.

On July 15th, 2016, Davies signed his first senior contract with Whitecaps. The contract ran through 2018, with 2019 and 2020 options for extension.

He was the third-youngest player to sign an MLS contract at the time of his signing and the youngest active player in the league. After Freddy Adu, Davies made his MLS debut on July 16, 2016, making him the second-youngest player to play in the league.

6. Scouted by Top Clubs Including Manchester United and Barcelona

Following his successful debuts in the MLS, Davies caught the attention of European clubs and was scouted by them. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Barcelona, a Spanish powerhouse, were among the teams on the list of interested parties.

In 2017, Alphonso was also ranked among the top 60 young soccer players in the world. Eventually, Davies did not join any of his early suitors.

This decision came back to haunt them later more so Barcelona whom he has inflicted immense pain severally. Remember the 8-2!?

7. Transferred to MLS For a Then-Record MLS Fee

On July 25, 2018, Vancouver announced they had agreed to a multi-million-dollar transfer of Davies to Bayern Munich. However, Davies remained in Vancouver for the rest of the year and completed the 2018 MLS season.

The transfer was valued at a fixed $13.5 million with performance-related bonuses that could see the price rise to $22 million. This was a record transfer fee received by any MLS Club at the time. It was later surpassed by Miguel Almiron’s transfer to Newcastle United in 2019.

8. Fastest Player Ever Recorded in The Bundesliga

Davies Sprinting by Sven Mandel – Wikimedia Commons

Thomas Muller, his Bayern teammate refers to Alphonso as ‘the roadrunner’ and for a good reason. Davies’ electrifying pace is one of his standout qualities and part of why he’s such an exciting player to watch.

In 2020, he was recorded as the quickest player to ever play in the Bundesliga. The records show Davies was moving at a speed of 36.51 km/h in June 2020.

9. Eligible for Canada, Ghana, and Liberia

Before making his first senior international debut, Davies was presented with a host of countries to play for before making his choice. Davies was born in Ghana but to Liberia-born parents. This, therefore, made him eligible to play for both African countries.

However, Davies had lived in Canada for the larger part of his life. Therefore, it was his dream to play international football for The Canucks. On June 6, 2017, he received Canadian citizenship and was therefore eligible to play for them.

10. Made His International Debut At 16

Despite being a Liberian international, Davies was playing for Canada’s youth teams since 2014. After getting his Canadian citizenship on June 6th, 2017, Davies was called up immediately. By immediately, I mean on the very same day.

 He made his debut in a friendly against Curaçao at age 16. This made him the youngest player to play for the national team. He won the Golden Boot at the 2017 Gold Cup and became the youngest scorer in the competition’s history.

In November 2022, Davies was named to Canada’s squad for the FIFA World Cup. This is only the second time Canada has qualified for the tournament, the first being in 1986.

11. First Canadian to Score for Bayern

Alphonso Davies in action for Bayern against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga by Steffen Prößdorf – Wikimedia Commons

Davies made his Bayern debut in the Telekom Cup championship finale against Borussia Monchengladbach on January 12, 2019. The game ended in a goalless draw and Bayer won on penalties.

Davies made his Bundesliga debut on January 27 as a substitute against VfB Stuttgart. He scored his first goal for Bayern on March 17, netting the final goal in a 6–0 rout of Mainz 05.

The goal made him the then-youngest player to score for Bayern at 18 years, 4 months, and 15 days. The goal also meant he was the first Canadian to score for the club.

At Bayern, Alphonso has already won 12 trophies. 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 Champions League, 4 Bundesliga titles, 1 UEFA Supercup, 2 German Cups, and 3 German Super Cups

12. Alphonso Davies Is A Global UNICEF Ambassador and A Vocal Advocate For Children’s Rights

Chris from Brampton, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alphonso Davies, a UNICEF global ambassador, is a passionate advocate for children’s rights and education. Born in a refugee camp, Davies experienced poverty but was fortunate to have access to education and soccer, which helped him overcome challenges and achieve his dreams.

He aims to ensure all children have the same opportunities, including a safe, healthy environment, access to education, and the opportunity to play and be happy. Davies serves as a powerful role model for young people, demonstrating that it is possible to overcome adversity and achieve dreams.

13. Davies Is Also A Successful Businessman

Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alphonso Davies, a successful businessman, launched his clothing and footwear line, Alphonso Davies Official, in 2021. The brand offers a range of products, such as t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and shoes, that are of high quality and affordable for everyone.

Alphonso’s love of fashion inspired him to create his brand, and he is committed to social responsibility, with a portion of the proceeds from each sale donated to UNICEF.

His business has been successful since its launch, with his products available online and in select retail stores worldwide. Alphonso has been featured in major fashion magazines and has collaborated with other brands like Puma and Nike.

His hard work and dedication have made him an inspiration to young entrepreneurs, proving that success can be achieved in both business and sports.

14. Davies Is A Talented Musician

Alphonso Davies is a versatile musician who plays guitar, piano, drums, and sings. His love for music began at a young age, with influences from hip-hop, R&B, and pop.

He started playing the guitar at 10 and began piano lessons at 12. Davies enjoys playing music for himself and others, often performing for teammates and fans.

Davies has also performed at charity events. Alphonso’s versatility and creativity are evident in his role as an athlete, businessman, and musician. He serves as an inspiration to young people and demonstrates the potential for success in multiple fields.

15. He’s Multilingual 

Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alphonso can speak English, French, and German fluently. He got English down as a kid, learned French in his teenage years, and picked up German after joining Bayern Munich in 2019. Alphonso’s really smart and easy to get along with, which is probably why he can communicate so well with his teammates, fans, and the media from all over the world.

His language skills even help him in business; he can interview and make deals in different languages! It’s pretty cool and shows how learning new languages can help you succeed in a globalized world.

16. Alphonso Models His Style Of Play To Messi’s

Кирилл Венедиктов, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons

Lionel Messi, to many, The GOAT, is a figure etched in footballing folklore. He boasts a mastery rarely witnessed.

His physique, more so the low center of gravity, allows him to glide past defenders with the deceptive ease of a phantom, while his left foot weaves magic.

His brilliance transcends age and geography, igniting admiration and inspiration in countless hearts, including that of Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies.

“I’ve been trying to copy his style of play,” confesses Davies, “however, the thing is that he’s a little bit shorter than me and my legs are long, so I have longer strides,” he chuckles, acknowledging the inherent differences in their styles.

17. Davies Has Experienced Several Injuries and Health Setbacks in Recent Seasons

Sven Mandel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite Alphonso Davies’ electrifying talent and youthful exuberance, his career has been punctuated by a series of setbacks in recent seasons. In 2020, a COVID-19 diagnosis followed by the discovery of mild myocarditis sidelined him for 84 days, disrupting his momentum and costing him 19 appearances.

Since then, a string of minor injuries, including muscular issues, head knocks, and torn muscles, have continued to hamper his progress, keeping him out of action for several games on end. These recurring physical hurdles have undoubtedly hampered Davies’ progress. However, whenever he is on the pitch, the World is reminded of his immense talent.

18. Davies Took Canada To Their First Final In Over 23 Years

Canada’s footballing journey in 2023 was a tale of two tournaments, marked by both despair and elation. The year began with a bitter pill to swallow, as the nation’s team limped out of the 2022 World Cup, finishing last in their group after three disheartening losses.

However, redemption arrived swiftly in the form of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Although Alphonso Davies was initially called up, he missed most of the tournament due to an ankle injury.

However, just when Canada needed him most, he emerged as a superhero in the semi-final against Panama. Introduced as a substitute in the 67th minute, Davies electrified the field with his trademark pace and skill.

Within two minutes, he found the back of the net with a powerful shot, sparking a 2-0 victory that sent Canada soaring into their first tournament final in 23 years!

This monumental achievement sent shockwaves through the nation. Canada hadn’t reached a tournament final since the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which they went on to win.

While they ultimately fell short against the USA in the 2023 final, Davies’ heroic return and Canada’s historic run to the final etched their names in the country’s footballing folklore, proving that even after a turbulent year, the beautiful game can still deliver moments of pure magic.

19. Alphonso Davies Was In A Relationship With Women’s Football Star – Jordyn Huitema

Douglas O’Brien from Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alphonso Davies’ brilliance extends beyond the pitch, as his personal life has also garnered attention. He was previously in a relationship with Jordyn Huitema, a fellow professional footballer who plays for both Paris Saint-Germain and the Canadian national team.

Huitema is a talented forward known for her technical skills and goalscoring prowess. While they were dating, Huitema was even rumored to be on the radar for a potential transfer to Bayern Munich’s women’s team.

However, their relationship sadly came to an end in May 2022, with Davies confirming the news on social media. Despite the split, both Davies and Huitema remain dedicated to their respective careers, continuing to shine on the international stage.

20. Davies is the Youngest Non-German Player to Make Over 100 Appearances for Bayern Munich in The Bundesliga

Bayern Munich, the German powerhouse, has been a breeding ground for legendary footballers, both domestic and international.

From the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller to modern-day stars like Robert Lewandowski, the club’s illustrious history is adorned with hundreds of appearances by iconic players. And now, Alphonso Davies, the young Canadian whiz, has etched his name onto that prestigious list.

On March 4, 2023, Davies made his 100th Bundesliga appearance for Bayern Munich, a feat that cemented his place as the youngest non-German player to achieve this milestone in the competition.

Joining the ranks of club legends like Arjen Robben, Jérôme Boateng, and David Alaba, Davies’ achievement is a testament to his immense talent, unwavering dedication, and the impact he’s already made at the Allianz Arena.

As of the time of writing this, Davies has over 180 appearances for Bayern at 23 years of age! Not bad, right?

At just 23 years old, Alphonso Davies has already conquered continents, defied limitations, and redefined expectations. He’s not just a footballer; he’s a symbol of resilience, inspiration, and the boundless potential of the human spirit.

From refugee camps to Bundesliga glory, Davies’ journey is a testament to the transformative power of passion and perseverance.