VANCOUVER, B.C. – Alphonso Davies' whirlwind continued apace on Thursday.
Davies was back in Vancouver at Whitecaps training, less than 24 hours after being unveiled in Philadelphia as Bayern Munich's latest signing in a record-breaking deal that could be worth up to $22 million to the Canadian club.
His feet have hardly touched the ground the last few days after Bayern's interest was first revealed over the weekend, which saw him fly out to Philadelphia to officially ink his deal and undergo a medical with the German giants.
The deal sees Davies remain in Vancouver, and MLS, for the remainder of the season, and the 17-year-old – who says it's "still all sinking in" – can now finally start to process everything that's happened.
He's taking it all his stride.
"It's been exciting," Davies told reporters at Whitecaps training. "To be able to sign for a club like Bayern Munich, it's exciting stuff. I've been dreaming about this as a kid.
"I'm a little bit nervous, but life comes with challenges and I'm ready to take on this one."
Bayern's interest in Davies first emerged a few weeks ago. With the Canadian international linked to a number of top European clubs, the persistence of the Bavarian club to land their man, and their plans for taking him to that next level, have all caught the humble winger a little off-guard.
"I was a little bit surprised," Davies admitted. "A lot of clubs showed interest, but they came through. They really wanted me and they really put in the effort to get me.
"They showed me their plan for me on the field, showed me how they would put me in the team."
Davies had a large say in the negotiations, keen to make sure that where he ended up was going to be a good fit for his continued development.
"It's my soccer career," Davies stated. "I needed to know what was going on, on the other side. So I was involved. They told me what was going on, I sat down in meetings. I just took it in and decided that that was the club for me."
Davies' rise through the Whitecaps’ system has been a quick one since he first joined the club's academy as a 14-year-old in 2015.
Born to Liberian parents in Buduburam, a refugee camp in Gomoa East District in the central region of Ghana, Davies moved to Canada when he was just 5 years old, first heading to Windsor, Ontario in 2006 before settling in Edmonton, Alberta one year later.
Davies' mother wasn't sure at first that she wanted her son to head west and leave the family to go to Vancouver. Concerned about his education, the Whitecaps worked hard to assure them that this was the right move for him. Fast forward three years, and Davies revealed that his mother was tearful when he gave her the news, but delighted for her son.
"Moving overseas, no mother wants to see their kid go so far away," Davies said. "Coming here really opened her eyes and showed her that I can take care of myself, and I'm ready to take that next step."
But there's still a few more months before Davies will head off to Germany and join Bayern. The talented winger isn't 18 until November, meaning that he will see out the rest of the season with the Whitecaps.
This has been a breakout season for Davies, with three goals and eight assists already recorded in the league in his 20 appearances. The Whitecaps will need his services if they are to make the postseason, and Davies is ready to give his all to help them achieve that and go out with a bang.
"I'm just going to go out there, play my game, and do what I have to do," Davies said. "Just help the team win … My mindset is still the same. Just go out there, play my game, win."
