The rising star who scored for Bayern Munich at just 17 years old
In short: In January 2023, a teenager stepped onto the pitch for Bayern Munich and changed his career forever. After scoring a goal in a friendly against Red Bull Salzburg, Arijon Ibrahimović went from a promising academy product to one of the most highly-rated young talents in the world.
Arijon Ibrahimović's ascent through the ranks of German football has been remarkably rapid. Having trained within the academies of 1. FC Nürnberg and Greuther Fürth, he transitioned to Bayern Munich during 2018. His technical proficiency was evident early; by age 14, he was already playing for the Bayern U17 side, and by 16, he had moved up to the U19 squad. This rapid progression caught the attention of international observers, with The Guardian naming him one of the best players born in 2005 worldwide in September 2022.
His professional breakthrough arrived on 13 January 2023, during a friendly against Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg. Entering the match as a substitute for Jamal Musiala, Ibrahimović scored a goal to help secure a 4–4 draw. This performance paved the way for his Bundesliga debut on 11 February 2023, appearing in a 3–0 victory over VfL Bochum. At that moment, he became the second youngest debutant in the club's history, surpassed only by Paul Wanner.
A versatile box-to-box midfielder, Ibrahimović is noted for his intelligent positioning and ability to contribute to both defense and attack, drawing comparisons to Leon Goretzka. While he has represented Germany at the youth level—including playing for the U17 side in the 2022 European Under-17 Championship—his international future remains a subject of interest. During October 2025, he held talks with Kosovo's Football Federation president, hinting at possible senior international eligibility for that country.
Despite his shared surname, the German midfielder is not related to the retired Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović. His family roots are in Prizren, Kosovo, and his brother Leunard also pursues a career in football.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Arijon Ibrahimović
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-arijon-ibrahimovi.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
