Nestory Irankunda leaves Watford for Portuguese giants Sporting CP

Nestory Irankunda will be playing in the UEFA Champions League this season, after the Socceroos star's move from Watford to Sporting CP was confirmed on Saturday.

Various reports from Europe have signalled that Irankunda will move to Os Leões for an initial fee of £13.6m (approximately $AUD 26m), a figure which could rise to £17m ($AUD 32.4m) when all is said and done. After Irankunda moved to Vicarage Road from Bayern Munich in 2025, the Bavarian giants have also been said to retain a stake in his future sell-on fees, which could be significant in the wake of Sporting tagging him with a massive £68.5m ($AUD 130m) release clause.

Australian clubs Adelaide United and Adelaide Croatia, where Irankunda developed before heading overseas, will also see a windfall from the sale thanks to a combination of sell-on fees from his move to Bayern and FIFA's training compensation program.

Irankunda, 20, became the youngest Australian to score at a men's World Cup when he netted for the Socceroos in their 2-0 win over Türkiye in North America in June, following a first season in England in which he netted nine goals in the Championship following his permanent move from Bayern to Watford.

He will join the likes of Greek striker Fotis Ioannidis, Colombian attacker Luis Suárez, Mozambican winger Geny Catamo and Portugal international Pedro Gonçalves in Sporting's attack, albeit Catamo might soon depart amidst strong reported interest from Sunderland, as well as Brentford, Aston Villa and Everton.

The club with which Cristiano Ronaldo made his professional debut back in 2002, Sporting's ability to develop and secure lucrative fees for players has seen them develop a reputation as one of the premier talent-factories in the sport. In recent years, Os Leões have sold Geovany Quenda to Chelsea and Viktor Gyökeres to Arsenal, and they have also sent Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United and Manuel Ugarte to Paris Saint-Germain.

After finishing second in the Primeira Liga in 2025-26, Rui Borges' side will enter this season's Champions League competition in the league phase, seeking to repeat or better their exploits from last campaign, in which they reached the quarterfinals before being knocked out by eventual finalists Arsenal.

Sporting drew 2-2 with Estrela da Amadora on the opening day of the Portuguese season on Saturday, with Catamo and Gonçalves starting on the wings.

Irankunda could next be back in action for Australia next month when the Socceroos host Brazil in two friendlies set for Townsville and Brisbane.

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