Joshua Zirkzee’s journey at FC Bayern began with an absolute dream start, yet his career trajectory has since been highly inconsistent. He is increasingly seen as a flop, paradoxically making his eventual sale one of the most significant coups of the Salihamidzic era for the record champions.
A professional career could hardly begin more spectacularly: On December 19, 2019, at just 18 years old, Joshua Zirkzee made his debut for FC Bayern’s senior team. He needed minimal time to make an impact, scoring a crucial goal for a 2-1 lead against SC Freiburg with his very first touch, just 104 seconds after coming on for Philippe Coutinho. Bayern ultimately won 3-1, and the young Dutchman was hailed as the man of the match.
Just three days later, the narrative repeated itself against VfL Wolfsburg: Bayern needed a goal, coach Hansi Flick once again brought on the youngster for Coutinho in the closing stages, and Zirkzee, with his first touch, scored the decisive goal, securing a 2-0 victory for FCB. Teammate David Alaba enthused, «It’s just amazing to witness.» Zirkzee suddenly became the talk of the town, with many believing FC Bayern had found Robert Lewandowski’s successor within their own ranks.
Roughly six and a half years on, Zirkzee has not fulfilled that early promise, nor has he truly found consistent footballing success elsewhere. The now almost 25-year-old Dutchman made what seemed like a significant career leap with his 2024 transfer to Manchester United, but he has primarily fluctuated between the starting lineup and the bench, with the latter becoming increasingly common this season.
Since Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and Michael Carrick’s appointment as coach in January, the already challenging situation for the six-time international has worsened. In ten Premier League matches under Carrick, Zirkzee has accumulated only 28 minutes of play, failing to register a single goal or assist.
Currently, there’s little indication that his fortunes will change before the season concludes. In those ten matches, Manchester United has amassed an impressive 23 points, climbing to third in the league and back on track for Champions League qualification for the first time since 2023. Carrick has established his core team, and competitors like Benjamin Sesko (five goals), Bryan Mbeumo (three goals, two assists), and Matheus Cunha (three goals, three assists) are consistently performing well under the new manager.
«Joshua is sometimes the type of player who only jumps as high as he needs to.»
Zirkzee’s primary issue remains his lack of the effectiveness demanded from a top-level offensive player. While his dream start at the German record champions suggested otherwise, closer inspection at the time might have raised concerns. In the third-tier team where Zirkzee primarily played before his senior debut, he remained goalless in 13 league appearances, providing only two assists.
Even immediately after his sensational debut, his progress didn’t continue as hoped. During the Triple-winning season, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, he scored twice more for the senior team but no longer played a significant role. He was not utilized during the Champions League final tournament in Portugal.
As early as spring 2020, Jochen Sauer, then head of FC Bayern’s youth academy and the driving force behind signing the talent from Feyenoord Rotterdam’s youth setup in 2017, warned: «Joshua is sometimes the type of player who only jumps as high as he needs to.» He emphasized that Zirkzee still needed to better cultivate the «hunger and will to contribute and force a goal,» and that the player needed to be «taken out of his comfort zone from time to time.»
Hansi Flick Publicly Criticized Zirkzee’s Attitude
When he continued to make only sporadic appearances under Flick in the subsequent season, the then-Bayern coach publicly criticized him. «Talent alone isn’t always enough,» said Flick, who preferred veteran Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as Robert Lewandowski’s backup, sounding almost as strict as Hermann Gerland. He added, «He has the quality to play in the Bundesliga, we are all convinced of that. But it’s also a bit about mentality, attitude, and the absolute will to show what you can do.»
Zirkzee’s time in Munich never truly developed into a success story. In winter, he was initially loaned to Italian top-flight club Parma Calcio. There, he struggled to secure a starting spot, then suffered an injury, making only four appearances in total before his team was relegated from Serie A at the end of the season, finishing last.
Joshua Zirkzee’s Breakthrough Under Vincent Kompany
However, the 1.93-meter tall striker proved his distinct qualities at his next loan spell. During the 2021/22 season at RSC Anderlecht, he found a coach who fully believed in him: Vincent Kompany. Zirkzee was a guaranteed starter at the center-forward position from the outset at Anderlecht, enjoying his most prolific season to date, featuring in 47 out of 48 possible games and racking up 31 goal contributions (18 goals, 13 assists).
Following Kompany’s appointment as Bayern coach, Zirkzee spoke glowingly about his mentor in an interview with the English Mirror: «Kompany was the coach who explained so much about the game and the small details to me. That year under him was crucial for my development – and he also ensured I played constantly.»
However, even the Belgian coach wasn’t always satisfied with the young striker’s attitude and body language, as seen in a viral video of Kompany’s heated moments during his tenure.
Resale Clause Generates Significant Funds for FC Bayern
Despite his strong season in Belgium, new Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann did not count on Zirkzee. In 2022, the Munich club sold him to FC Bologna for 8.5 million euros, with an additional million reportedly due for every 25 games played, according to Sky. Bayern also secured a buy-back option and a lucrative sell-on clause.
This proved to be a shrewd financial move for Bayern. After initial struggles, Zirkzee impressed at Bologna, sometimes earning glowing praise from the Italian press, and sensationally helped his team qualify for the Champions League in 2024.
Manchester United, a club not known for bargain hunting, subsequently paid a hefty 42.5 million euros for his services – half of which went to Munich. This meant the Dutchman, originally acquired for a youth development fee of just 100,000 euros, ultimately generated over 30 million euros in transfer fees for FC Bayern. Because then-Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic insisted on a significant sell-on clause in Zirkzee’s transfer, this deal is still considered one of his greatest coups.
«Brazzo always kept an eye on the economic framework,» praised President Herbert Hainer. Record international Lothar Matthäus also stated at the time, «Hasan gets an A for transfers – and a star for sales.»
Zirkzee Should Leave Manchester to Revitalize His Career
While the transfer likely proved financially beneficial for Zirkzee, it has not been so from a sporting perspective. Under three different coaches (Erik ten Hag, Amorim, Carrick), he has failed to establish himself despite occasional flashes of brilliance. The lack of effectiveness continues to plague him. In his debut season for United, he scored seven goals across all competitions, with only two more added in the current season. His entire professional career tally now stands at 45 goals.
Critics of his Premier League transfer, where he seems to lack some dynamism, can thus feel vindicated. A summer move is likely, despite his contract running until 2029.
A return to Munich, where a backup position behind Harry Kane is expected to open up this summer, would have a certain appeal due to a reunion with his former mentor, Kompany. However, a move to Italy appears far more probable, given Zirkzee’s excellent reputation there since his time at Bologna and better prospects for a starting role.
Already in winter, there were rumors of a transfer to clubs currently vying for Champions League qualification, such as AS Roma and Juventus. AC Milan and city rivals Inter have also been mentioned.
In Serie A, the Dutchman could reignite his stalled career and once again make a case for national team selection. The 2024 European Championship participant has not been called up for almost a year and a half.
Joshua Zirkzee: His Career Stages
| Club | Period | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Bayern | 2019-2021 | 17 | 4 | 1 |
| Parma Calcio | 2021 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| RSC Anderlecht | 2021-2022 | 47 | 18 | 13 |
| FC Bologna | 2022-2024 | 58 | 14 | 9 |
| Manchester United | 2024-Present | 69 | 9 | 4 |