This summer's FIFA World Cup provided a platform for some of the world's finest talent to showcase their quality, and a number of Australian players took full advantage of the opportunity.
According to Football360, winger Nestory Irankunda is set to be the latest one to earn a transfer, as he is set to sign for Portuguese giants Sporting CP.
The Portuguese outfit have agreed to pay $24.5 million (AUD) (€21 million/£18 million) to Watford for the signature of the Socceroos star on a permanent basis.
Irankunda will become one of the most expensive Australian players in history once the transfer to the Portuguese outfit is completed.
Sporting CP Close In On Nestory Irankunda
Championship outfit Watford have accepted an offer of $24.5m from Sporting to sell Nestory Irankunda, having turned down an approach from Hull City.
The deal for the 20-year-old includes add-ons, and he will put pen to paper on a permanent transfer in the coming days.
Irankunda set his sights on a move from England's second-tier league after an impressive showing at the FIFA World Cup. .
He will now get a chance to feature in the UEFA Champions League with the Portuguese side for the first time in his career.
Irankunda will become the second addition to the Sporting squad in his position, with Jesse Derry having been brought in on loan from Chelsea earlier this summer.
The Bayern Munich Clause: The Final Hurdle in Negotiations
According to the reports, the transfer is being held up by a clause in the deal that brought Irankunda to England from Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga giants included a 50% sell-on clause in the transfer last summer, meaning that they would receive half of whatever fee Irankunda is sold for.
Watford negotiated a purchase of 10% of the rights after he joined them, leaving Bayern with a 40% cut on a transfer fee for the youngster.
Talks are currently ongoing between Watford and Bayern to determine how much will be paid to the Bundesliga outfit for the transfer this summer.
A swift resolution is expected to be reached and Irankunda will subsequently go for his medicals and sign with the Portuguese side.
How The World Cup Changed Irankunda's Career
Nestory Irankunda was among the Australian players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, playing in the tournament for the first time.
The youngster scored four goals and provided five assists in 40 Championship games for Watford to earn a place in the Socceroos squad.
Irankunda scored their first goal of the tournament in a shock 2-0 win over Turkey, showcasing his pace and ability to find the net.
He had an impressive tournament overall along with several of his teammates who have also moved to Europe.
Paul Okon-Engstler has joined FC Koln in Germany, while 18-year-old Luca Herrington appears set for a move to Hull City.
Goalkeeper Patrick Beach has also signed with Ligue 1 outfit ESTAC Troyes, and Cammy Devlin has joined Rangers.
What Young Footballers Can Learn From Irankunda's Journey
Young players must understand that taking a step back is sometimes necessary to move into the future.
Irankunda swapped Bayern to join Watford for regular minutes, believing in his talent and trusting in his quality. After only one season, the youngster is now set to move to a major European side.
Also, Irankunda represents a generation of Australian players who took full advantage of the FIFA World Cup to showcase their quality.
Young players must recognize the significance of these tournaments as launching pads for their careers and opportunities to move to bigger teams.
