Could Alphonso Davies be the Premier League’s next Canadian star?
The city is also known for its lofty buildings, which serve as home for numerous government departments. Its locals and tourists have helped turn Edmonton into one of the largest hubs for Canadian casinos. Even the airport has a games room and racetrack!
You probably wouldn’t have expected one of the hottest young talents in world soccer to emerge from such an environment, but Alphonso Davies’ backstory reveals a young man that has always had to do things the hard way.
After being born in the African nation of Liberia, civil war forced about 450,000 people to flee, leaving the Davies family to find sanctuary in Canada, where they eventually settled in Edmonton.
Only speaking broken English, Davies found it challenging to communicate with his classmates at school, but as soon as he stepped onto the soccer field, it was evident that he spoke this universal language fluently.
In a family that struggled for money and transportation, Davies could only play in the Free Footie program, which provided safe games for inner-city children who had no means to travel to play the sport they loved.
Davies thrived, and before long, he was spotted by the scouts of the Vancouver Whitecaps. At age 15, he joined their academy. He was in their first team within a year, becoming the second-youngest player at 16 to appear in the MLS.
Performances of the highest order saw countless scouts from European clubs attend Vancouver matches, although it was German champions Bayern Munich who would secure his signature in a transfer deal worth up to $22m — an MLS record at the time.
Converted to a full-back from an out-and-out winger, it wasn’t long before Davies — in trademark fashion — made his breakthrough in Munich. Now a first-team regular, he has already won winner’s medals in the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and the Champions League.
Anyone that witnessed his flawless display in Bayern’s 3-0 hammering of Barcelona in September will know that the Germans have a world-class talent in their midst, but how long can they keep him?
His ability to use his lightning pace to switch defence into attack will certainly be useful in the Premier League, where Davies’ speed of play in transition would be a huge advantage. Both Manchester City and Chelsea, England’s most significant spenders of late, play with attacking full-backs, and the 20-year-old would undoubtedly fit the bill.
So could Davies be joining these Canadian stars on the rollcall of Premier League players past and present?
Jim Brennan
It would be fair to describe Jim Brennan’s impact on Canadian soccer as vast.
He was the first player from the country to secure a transfer fee of more than $1m when he joined Nottingham Forest from Bristol City, and he would go on to make a catalogue of Premier League appearances in England — most notably for Norwich City.
Brennan earned the Canadian Player of the Year Award in 1999. Barely a year later, he was celebrating as he helped the national team to the CONCACAF Gold Cup title — their first in 15 years.
After joining Toronto FC, Brennan would be selected for the MLS All-Star game in 2008. A year later, he played his part as his new team landed the Canadian Championship.
Inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2015, Brennan’s legacy is secure.
Frank Yallop
One of the first Canadians to make his mark in English soccer, Frank Yallop made more than 300 appearances for Ipswich Town — many of them in the Premier League.
He was part of the Tractor Boys squad that made the unlikeliest of pushes for the Premier League title in 1992-93, where they would eventually fall away. However, they were soon established in the top tier and qualified for continental soccer as well.
A successful coach too, Yallop is a two-time MLS Cup winner with San Jose Earthquakes and has twice won the MLS Coach of the Year trophy.
Scott Arfield
Born in Scotland with a Canadian father, Scott Arfield waited until 2016 before declaring himself available for selection by the national team.
The midfielder had represented Scotland at each youth level but was unable to step up into the senior side. When Canada came calling, he jumped at the chance.
He’s earned 19 caps for his international team and made more than 80 Premier League appearances for Burnley — the unfashionable Lancashire club that continues to outperform expectations on a meagre budget.
Today, the 32-year-old is a crucial fixture in the Rangers team that won the Scottish Premiership title in 2020-21.
Craig Forrest
Premier League fans of a certain age will recall Ipswich Town’s stunning 0-9 defeat to Manchester United back in 1994.
The Ipswich goalkeeper that day? A certain Craig Forrest, who would go on to become a Canadian soccer legend.
He was so highly rated that he enjoyed spells with Chelsea and West Ham, and in the midst of all that, he was part of the Canada team that won the Gold Cup in 2000.
Forrest won the Best Player Award at the Gold Cup, and in 2015 he was inducted into Canada’s sporting hall of fame.
David Edgar
As a youngster, David Edgar was one of the most promising young talents to breakthrough in Canadian soccer — it’s just that he was so good at everything else too.
A talented athlete who broke a number of school records, Edgar also courted a career in the NHL — soccer was something of a hobby in comparison.
An overseas tour to England saw the defender offered scholarship terms by Manchester United. While he turned that opportunity down to stay in Canada, it wouldn’t be long before Edgar got his big break at Newcastle United.
He would make more than 20 Premier League appearances for the Magpies before joining Arfield at Burnley in their successful promotion bid to the top flight.