Sporting secure Australia international Nestory Irankunda in €15m Watford switch

Australia-Tanzania midfielder Nestory Irankunda has joined Sporting from Watford in a €15m transfer, becoming the Portuguese club’s latest addition ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The 20-year-old right midfielder has signed a contract with Sporting running until 30 June 2031. Irankunda, who is right-footed and 1.75m tall, moves to Lisbon after one season with Watford in England’s Championship.

Irankunda joined Watford from FC Bayern II on 18 July 2025 for €3m. He had spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Grasshoppers before returning to Bayern’s reserve side, having originally moved to Germany from Adelaide United for €900,000 in July 2024.

His switch to Sporting follows an international appearance at the 2026 World Cup, where he played in all four of Australia’s possible matches and scored once. He started 75% of those games and featured for 68% of Australia’s total minutes, contributing to 20% of the team’s goals during the tournament.

Irankunda began his senior career in Australia with Adelaide United after progressing from the club’s under-21 side. He also represented Raiders Academy before making that move and was the leading scorer in qualification for the 2023 AFC Under-17 Asian Cup, scoring eight goals.

The move takes Irankunda into Liga Portugal after his season in the English second tier. He has not yet made a league appearance for Sporting, with the transfer completed on 15 August 2026.

Sporting have secured Irankunda’s services on a deal that keeps the midfielder at the club until the end of June 2031.