Facts About Swiss-Nigerian Star Manuel Akanji

After leaving Borussia Dortmund, Manuel Akanji joined Manchester City, where he plays with the number 25 jersey.
He is a supporter of Manchester United.
Manuel Akanji was born in Netftenbach, Switzerland
Manuel Akanji’s mother, Isabel Akanji, is from Switzerland, and his father, Abimbola Akanji, is from Nigeria.
Isabel Akanji, Manuel’s mother, is Swiss, and Abimbola Akanji, his father, is Nigerian.
Manuel Akanji has an estimated 2 million euro net worth.

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Who is Manuel Akanji?

Manuel Akanji is a professional footballer from Switzerland who now plays for Manchester City and the Switzerland national team. Akanji is 27 years old and plays the position of defender.

The date and location of Manuel Akanji’s birth is July 19, 1995, and it took place in Wiesendangen. Before coming to Manchester City, his most recent team was with Borussia Dortmund.

Between the years 2004 and 2007, he was a member of FC Wiesendangen, and between the years 2007 and 2015, he was a member of FC Winterthur. In addition, he was a player for FC Basel between the years of 2015 and 2018.

The right foot is the one that Manuel Akanji likes to use more when he plays. His number on the jersey is 25.

Manuel Akanji’s mother, Isabel Akanji, is from Switzerland, and his father, Abimbola Akanji, is from Nigeria. Manuel Akanji was born in Netftenbach, Switzerland.

Michelle and Sarah Akanji were Manuel Akanji’s sisters when he was growing up. One could easily tell that each sibling was born with a passion for athletics flowing through their veins. They began, when they were still children, to model their lives after those of their sports-enthusiastic parents.

He admits that he is a supporter of Manchester United and that he enjoyed riding bicycles when he was a kid.

11 Quick Facts About Manuel Akanji

Full Name: Manuel Obafemi Akanji
Date of Birth: July 19, 1995
Place of Origin: Wiesendangen, Switzerland
Parents: Isabel Akanji & Abimbola Akanji
Siblings: Michelle Akanji & Sarah Akanji
Spouse: Melanie Windler
Offspring: Aayden Malik Adebayo Akanji
Nationality: Switzerland / Nigerian
Current Teams: Manchester City / Switzerland
Position: Defender
Net Worth: 2 Million Euros

What We Know About Manuel Akanji’s Education

At the age of four, Manuel Akanji began his formal schooling, beginning with kindergarten, and continuing on to his primary school years at the age of six. His parents placed a premium on education from the very beginning.

He was known as the class superstar back while he was still in school. Math and mental arithmetic were two of his favourite things to do. His father, a Nigerian soccer player, served as an early and influential role model for him outside of the classroom.

Early in his career, Manuel Akanji split time between centre midfield and the wings. He was awarded numerous accolades at a young age. When he was nine years old, he joined FC Wiesendangen, an amateur sports team in his community.

At the age of 11, he impressed FC Winterthur with his first academy. This more prestigious school competed in the Swiss Football League 2. There, Akanji worked his way up through the younger ranks, culminating in his graduation from a prestigious football academy. At 17, he, too, switched to playing central defence.

What You Should Know About Manuel Akanji’s Career

After growing up in Wiesendangen, Manuel Akanji got his start in the sport with the town’s youth team. In May of 2007, he made the move to FC Winterthur, where he took on the role of young team captain. After starring for their under-18 squad, he was promoted to the club’s second team.

After appearing in two games for Winterthur in the second part of the 2013–14 season, he became a regular starter for the club in the Challenge League in 2014–15.

There was a report in April 2015 that Manuel Akanji might be moving to Basel. His departure was timed with the start of the 2015–2016 Super League season. On September 26, 2015, he made his Swiss Super League debut after coming in as a substitute in a game against FC Lugano. Urs Fischer coached Manuel Akanji to two Swiss Super League titles in his stint with the team: in 2015/16 and 2016/17.

The club’s 20th championship overall and eighth in a row. They completed a historic double six times in the club’s history when they also won the Swiss Cup for the twelfth time.

Basel advanced to the Group Stage of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League as the Swiss national champions. And it was thanks in large part to Manuel Akanji, who featured in all six games and helped the squad finish in second place and advance. It was confirmed on January 15th, 2018, that Manuel Akanji would be joining Borussia Dortmund.

Four and a half years was the length of the deal that Manuel Akani inked. On September 27th, in a 7-0 win over FC Nurnberg, Manuel Akanji scored his first goal as a member of the Bundesliga club.

When Borussia Dortmund’s challenge to Bayern Munich in the 2019/2020 season ultimately failed, he came under heavy fire for his role in the loss. He was identified as the team’s weakest link.

On September 1, 2022, he signed a six-year contract with Premier League champions Manchester City worth 15 million Euro. The contract would run from 2022 to 2027. Five days later, on October 3, he made his Man City debut in a 4-0 victory over Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage.

His debut in the Premier League came on September 17, 2022, as a starter in a 3-0 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In two separate games for the Swiss U-20 National Team, he scored two goals. His first game was a tie against the German U-20 National Team on September 7, 2014. In March of 2014, he made his debut for the Swiss U-21 squad in a 0-3 loss to the Italian U-21 side.

At the 2018 World Cup Qualifying in June 2017, Manuel Akanji made his senior squad debut in a 2-0 victory against the Faroe Islands. In the complete game, he took part in all 90 minutes. He was also included in Switzerland’s final 23-man roster for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Russia.

In May of 2019, Manuel Akanji competed for his country at the UEFA Nations League Finals, where his squad ultimately placed fourth. Manuel Akanji was included in the 2021 national team that competed in the UEFA Euro.

At 1.88 metres in height, Manuel Akanji has played 119 matches for the Bundesliga’s top team, plating 76 goals. His four career goals came while he was with Borussia Dortmund.

Is Manuel Akanji A Christian, Muslim, or Pagan?

To put it simply, Manuel Akanji practises Islam. He was born in Switzerland, but his father is a Muslim from Nigeria, and he has followed in his footsteps.

What is Manuel Akanji’s Ethnicity?

As his full name indicates, Manuel Akanji’s other name is Obafemi. Obafemi translates to “the king loves me” in Yoruba. The Yoruba are a people from southwestern Nigeria. Yoruba is the ethnicity of Manuel Akanji.