Ten minutes. That was all Sydney FC Sporting Director Alexander Baumjohann needed to be convinced he was watching something special almost two years ago.
The player? Akol Akon.
Akon’s name is now on everyone’s lips following his dazzling performance in the Sydney Derby, but before breaking through in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season, the teenager was wearing the colours of fierce rivals Western Sydney Wanderers in their academy.
Baumjohann first noticed Akon about 18 months ago while the youngster was on international duty with the CommBank Joeys. He had only just turned 15 and was competing in an older age group.
“I watched a match and within five or ten minutes I could tell he was a unique kid and a special player,” Baumjohann told Football360.
“I thought Australia had found someone who could become a real star of the future.”
The challenge was that Akon was already part of the Western Sydney academy under a youth development agreement. That did not stop Baumjohann from keeping close tabs on him.
“I kept following him, watching his academy matches, and I honestly believed the Wanderers would sign him because he was not only one of the biggest talents for Australian football, but also probably the best prospect in their own system,” Baumjohann continued.
“But around January last year, I learned he still didn’t have a contract. He had already played for their NPL team at just 15 years old. That’s when I started asking questions to see if there was any chance we could bring him to Sydney.
“At that stage it wasn’t possible because the rules say that if you want to sign a player on a youth development agreement from another club, you must inform that club and give them seven days to convince the player to stay. We were right at the end of the registration window and didn’t have seven days, so the deal collapsed. The Wanderers knew we were interested.”
Baumjohann eventually believed the chance to sign the teenage sensation — who had made headlines with a stunning 15-minute hat-trick for the Joeys against Saudi Arabia — was gone.
But persistence, and what he described as a “crazy” situation across town, reopened the door.
“I was certain he would no longer be an option and that the Wanderers would do everything possible to give him a contract,” the former German international said. “They apparently promised him a deal and the chance to train with the first team. But then a few weeks later, he scored another hat-trick for the Joeys and the hype around him grew even more.
“I thought the opportunity was lost. Still, I kept monitoring things. I stayed in contact with his agent and later found out the Wanderers still hadn’t signed him. For me, that was unbelievable. That’s when I realized there might be another chance in the next window.
“We tried again, and after talking with him, he was impressed by the project we showed him. Young players around Australia know Sydney FC offers a real pathway — not only into our first team, but also beyond, helping them move overseas through our network.
“From the very first conversation, he told me he wanted to join Sydney. The Wanderers again had seven days to convince him, and I believe that’s when they offered him a first-team contract. But he kept his word. For a player who had just turned 16 to make such a decision and stick to it under pressure is remarkable.
“We understood it might take time before he played regularly, but signing one of the top talents of his generation was huge for us.”
It is now clear why the Sky Blues were so determined to bring Akon to Sydney.
The Australian youth international has thrived since making the move from the Wanderers to Sydney FC.
Already the youngest Isuzu UTE A-League player in the club’s history, Akon produced a masterclass with three assists as Ufuk Talay’s side tore apart his former club 4-1 in the Sydney Derby.
In Baumjohann’s view, Akon is a “generational talent”.
However, he is still only at the beginning of his football journey — a path Baumjohann knows well.
Baumjohann himself was a highly regarded teenager who signed his first professional contract with Schalke before later playing for Bayern Munich.
Now 39, he sees similarities between his own development and Akon’s, and believes one particular quality sets the teenager apart from other Australian prospects.
“He’s still very young,” Baumjohann said. “I’ve seen players with huge talent at 16 who never became professionals, and others who were not ready at 16 or 17 but developed later and succeeded.
“I see a lot of myself in him. When I was 16, I signed my first professional contract with Schalke, which was rare at that time. I was considered a wonderkid.
“Looking at him now, he clearly has the talent and physical strength for his age. But what impresses me most is his maturity, on and off the pitch. Many young players in Australia want everything immediately. He’s different. He never complains, he listens, he works hard, and he follows the guidance of the coaching and performance staff.
“He had three assists against the Wanderers, which is great, but there are other things — his decision-making, his positioning, his defensive work, his discipline without the ball — that you don’t usually see from players his age.
“We know young players will always be inconsistent. There will be matches where he doesn’t perform and there may be injuries. That’s football. But I have no doubts about his mentality. If he keeps working the way he has since joining us, he can become a top, top player.
“My responsibility is to pass on as much of my experience as possible so he is ready for whatever comes next. We will give him all the time and support he needs to develop in the best way.”
Akon may have played only eight senior matches so far, but he is already attracting interest from overseas.
Reports suggest a Premier League club, along with teams from Germany and MLS, are monitoring the teenager, who has started just one Isuzu UTE A-League game.
Such attention is expected, but how Sydney FC prepare Akon and other young players for the future is part of a broader strategy that affects Australian football as a whole.
“I assume many clubs were already tracking him before he joined us because when a young player competes in an older national team age group and scores a hat-trick, global scouting systems pick that up immediately,” Baumjohann said, drawing on his experience in Australia after winning the Premiership-Championship double with Sydney.
“As Sporting Director, I’m constantly in contact with clubs around the world about our players — not only the first-team ones, but also those coming through the system.
“I’ve already spoken to several clubs to make sure they keep an eye on him for the future. Whether he stays two seasons or five, nobody knows. Our main focus is preparing our players properly so when they move overseas, they are ready and go to the right club.
“Too many Australian players go abroad too early to leagues that are too big, don’t get playing time, and return after a few months. That hurts Australian football. If overseas clubs see Australians struggling outside the A-League, interest in our market drops.
“So for me, guiding our players carefully is essential. When the time is right for him, I’m confident we’ll find the correct next step. But he has only started one A-League match. It’s normal people are talking about him, but he needs to stay focused on Sydney — and I’m sure he will. Everything else will come naturally.”
