Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has enjoyed an encouraging start to the 2026/27 campaign after spending much of the previous 18 months struggling with injuries. The 25-year-old now has an opportunity to continue his recovery without the additional demands of international football after Canada granted him permission to take his postponed honeymoon.
Davies will miss Canada’s upcoming friendlies against Chile, Peru and the United States following an agreement with national team head coach Jesse Marsch. Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen has publicly welcomed the Canadian football federation’s decision to release Canada’s captain from international duty. The news arrives at an encouraging time for Davies, who appears to be rediscovering the explosive pace and attacking dynamism that previously made him such an important component of Bayern’s starting XI.
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Davies overcoming a difficult 18 months
The Canadian’s recovery has been anything but straightforward. Davies suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament while representing his country in March 2025, an injury that kept him sidelined until shortly before Christmas. As GGFN reported in February, Davies subsequently suffered another setback during Bayern’s Bundesliga victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Further muscular problems followed, culminating in a thigh injury during Bayern’s Champions League semi-final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in May.
The latter injury severely disrupted Davies’ participation in the 2026 World Cup. Although selected for Canada’s squad, the defender missed the entire group stage and managed only a brief substitute appearance against South Africa in the round of 32. He remained on the bench as Canada exited the tournament against Morocco in the last 16. Davies subsequently admitted that the competition had been one of the most difficult experiences of his career.
Bayern therefore adopted a cautious approach to his preseason preparations. Davies began the new campaign with carefully managed playing time, making three starts and three substitute appearances in Bayern’s opening six competitive fixtures. The gradual increase in playing time has nevertheless coincided with increasingly convincing performances.
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Davies reclaims Bayern’s left-back position despite competition
The Canadian scored a spectacular goal during Bayern’s 5-0 Champions League victory over Bodø/Glimt. Davies followed that performance with an impressive substitute appearance against Elversberg, replacing summer signing Nathaniel Brown in the 65th minute. The defender subsequently produced two assists during Bayern’s emphatic 7-0 victory over Union Berlin, taking his early-season tally to three.
The resurgence is particularly noteworthy given the arrival of Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt. As GGFN reported following the German international’s €50m transfer, Bayern’s substantial investment in the 23-year-old appeared to establish him as the club’s long-term solution at left-back. Brown’s versatility also provided Vincent Kompany with the opportunity to experiment.
As examined in GGFN’s 2026/27 Bayern tactical preview, the former Frankfurt professional initially operated as an attacking midfielder in the absence of several established attacking options. That decision even prompted a joke from new Germany head coach Jürgen Klopp, who found it amusing that one of his country’s emerging solutions at left-back was being deployed in a completely different position.
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“We finally have a left-back, and then they put him at No. 10,” Klopp remarked during Sat.1‘s coverage of Bayern’s opening Bundesliga victory against Stuttgart.
Brown has since returned to his natural position, but the competition appears to have benefited Davies. The Canadian has reclaimed his place in Kompany’s preferred starting XI and is once again displaying the qualities that made him one of the Bundesliga’s most dangerous attacking full-backs.
Bayern welcome Alphonso Davies’ postponed honeymoon
Davies will now take a break from competitive football during the international period, with Canada coach Marsch granting his captain permission to take the honeymoon that he was unable to enjoy following his wedding shortly after the World Cup. Marsch confirmed that he had considered allowing Davies to join the Canadian squad midway through the international window. The American coach ultimately decided that his captain would benefit more from taking his honeymoon and subsequently continuing to improve his physical condition.
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Bayern CEO Dreesen has welcomed the arrangement, describing the Canadian federation’s decision as a considerate gesture towards the defender. Speaking at a reception at the Bavarian State Chancellery, Dreesen confirmed that Bayern fully supported Davies’ plans. Marsch, meanwhile, has been encouraged by the defender’s recent progress. The Canada coach believes Davies is playing well, looks exceptionally fit and feels increasingly comfortable on the pitch.
The international break will provide Davies with another opportunity to manage his workload before returning to Bundesliga action. Marsch expects his captain to be available again in November as Canada prepares for its next series of international fixtures.
GGFN | Peter Weis
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