Manuel Akanji is an Inter player

There are moments in life when you find yourself confronted with challenges which are seen as impossible, mountains to climb which seem insurmountable: there are situations in which calmness and serenity are essential attributes, qualities that allow you to find powerful strengths that are sometimes nearly forgotten. This is how the life and career of Manuel Obafemi Akanji, Inter’s new defender, has played out. He is a player who is able to imagine new routes on and off of the field, even when he’s faced with difficult challenges.

Born in Wiesendangen, in the Canton of Zürich on 19 July 1995, Manuel grew up immersed in the world of sport. His mother Isabel is a former Swiss tennis player, while his father, Abimbola, a Nigerian finance expert and amateur footballer, passed on his passion for the game. Watching his father’s games, Akanji fell in love with football. In the family garden, he and his sister tried to imitate their father’s moves, imagining themselves at the world’s biggest stadiums. Akanji’s imagination always ran fast, thanks to his brilliant mind, the same mind that would help him in the toughest moments. At just nine years old, when he began playing for Wiesendangen, Manuel was physically smaller than his teammates: it took great mental strength and plenty of sacrifice to keep believing in a dream that seemed far from easy. Yet, Akanji proved to be something special. In 2007, he moved to Winterthur, the same Club at which his sister Sarah played. This was the start of a new journey, which lasted six years and led him to wear one of the most prestigious shirts in his country. After becoming a key player for Winterthur, he earned a move to FC Basel in the Summer of 2015. With FC Basel, Akanji made his debut in the Swiss top-flight, but made just 12 appearances in his first season due to a serious injury. At this time, he showed his true strength and incredible resilience: “prove them wrong” became his motto, a phrase that he carries with him on his skin.

In the two years that followed, Manuel became a key player for FC Basel. He made his Champions League debut in the 2017/18 season and won two league titles and a Swiss Cup. Borussia Dortmund came knocking in January 2018, representing a new adventure for Akanji. This adventure allowed him to grow as a man and player: in four and a half years, Manuel played 158 matches, winning a German Cup and German Supercup. In the 2019/20 season, he crossed paths for the first time with Inter, as he faced the Nerazzurri in two group games in the Champions League in the 2019/20 season.

Having now established himself on an international level, Akanji moved to Manchester City in the Summer of 2022. Manuel is a capable defender who is able to play different roles thanks to his ability to play with the ball at his feet. That child who played with his head held high became a defender who was represented worldwide: that which was once questioned, became his greatest strength. In England, Manuel played and won a lot: for the Cityzens, he made 136 appearances in three years, scored five goals and won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a Community Shield, a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023.

As the 23rd Swiss national in Inter’s history, Manuel is a veteran in his National Team, having made his debut in 2017. Akanji has made 71 appearances for Switzerland, reaching the last-16 of the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and the European Championship Quarter Finals in 2020 and 2024, being named in the team of the tournament on the last occasion.

Serenity, composure, and a quiet strength: with these great qualities, Manuel Akanji introduces himself to the Nerazzurri fans as he gets ready to begin his adventure with Inter.

Welcome, Manuel!