Okocha Reveals Shocking Reason Bayern Munich Couldn’t Sign Him in 1991

Super Eagles legend Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has revealed that Bayern Munich tried to sign him in 1991, but the move collapsed because he was only 17 and German regulations prevented the club from offering him a professional contract.

Okocha had impressed Bayern during a youth tournament in Switzerland, where he featured for the German giants’ youth team. His performances convinced the club to pursue his signature, but the proposed move could not be formalised because he would not turn 18 until August.

‘I got an offer from Bayern Munich. I went with their youth team to a tournament in Switzerland, and after that, they wanted to sign me,’ Okocha said on the Obi One Podcast.

‘Bayern made me an offer, but it was only verbal because they said, ‘We can’t give you a professional contract until you turn 18.’’

Okocha, however, refused to leave his future to a verbal agreement and asked Bayern to provide the offer in writing.

‘I asked them, ‘Can you put it in writing on paper? Because I can’t come all the way from Nigeria to rely on a verbal contract. What if I get injured and you tell me to go home? I’ll have nothing?’’ he recalled.

The Nigerian subsequently returned to Germany and joined third-tier side Borussia Neunkirchen before Eintracht Frankfurt signed him during the winter transfer window. He went on to make 90 Bundesliga appearances for Frankfurt, scoring 18 goals before moving to Fenerbahce in 1996.

Looking back at the opportunity, Okocha said he was prepared to take the risk of joining Bayern because of the club’s enormous stature in German football at the time.

‘I would have had to train with the professionals and play with the reserve team, but I was willing to take the risk because they were the biggest club in Germany,’ he said.