Michael Olise
Professional footballer (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Akpovie Olise (/ˈɒˈliseɪ/; o-LEE-say; Urhobo: [à.k͡pɔ̀.vjɛ̀ ɔ̀.lí.sɛ̀]; French: [maikəl olisɛ]; born 12 December 2001)[2][3] is a professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the France national team. Widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, he is known for his creative playmaking, tactical intelligence, dribbling, and flair.[A]
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Olise with France in 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Michael Akpovie Olise | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 December 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | White City, London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Positions | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Bayern Munich | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Hayes & Yeading United | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Arsenal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2016 | Chelsea | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Manchester City | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Reading | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Reading | 67 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Crystal Palace | 82 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Bayern Munich | 66 | (27) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | France U18 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | France U21 | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | France Olympic | 9 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | France | 25 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:28, 16 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:15, 18 July 2026 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Born in London, Olise is a product of various English academies. He made his professional debut for Championship club Reading in 2019 and won EFL Young Player of the Season in 2021. He was then signed by Premier League club Crystal Palace, where he spent three seasons. He was nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year in 2024, before moving to Bayern Munich. At Bayern, Olise emerged as one of the most dominant wingers in Europe; in 2024–25, he was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Season and in 2025–26, he was named VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season. He has helped the club win two league titles and a DFB-Pokal.
Olise represented France at youth level and was included in their squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics, receiving a silver medal. He made his debut for the senior French team in September 2024 and played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup where he registered a tournament-high seven assists — the most for any player in a single World Cup edition.
Early life
Michael Akpovie Olise[12] was born on 12 December 2001[13] in White City, London, England, and raised in the suburb of Hayes.[14] His mother, Mina, is Franco-Algerian[15] while his father, Vincent, is a British-Nigerian deacon who was an international cricket player for Nigeria.[16][17] He has a younger brother, Richard.[18] Raised in a tight-knit and multicultural family,[19] Olise characterizes himself as coming "from four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria, and England"[20] all of which he regularly spent time in during childhood.[16] He spoke both English and French at home.[21][20] On his upbringing, he has stated:
"I have many different connections with Nigeria, Algeria, France, and England. It's not something I think about every day; it's perfectly normal for me. I carry little things from each country within me. It has broadened my horizons because these cultures are quite different from one another. At home, I had three cultures thanks to my parents. And outside, it was England, where I grew up. I didn't have to force this mix; it was just there."[22]
Olise attended Dr Triplett’s Primary School, the Douay Martyrs School, and St Bede's College.[23] Good at maths and extremely shy and quiet, he excelled in various sports including basketball, cricket, and table tennis.[17][24] In addition, he was a cross-country running champion for the London borough of Hillingdon and a district sports gold medallist in the 400 metres.[23] As a youth, Olise idolised French footballers Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry and dreamt of joining France’s national football team.[25]
Club career
Early career
At age six, Olise joined his local football club Hayes & Yeading United in west London after his mom responded to an advertisement for the club in the newspaper.[26] Olise once arrived late with his parents after getting lost and the team was losing 2–0 at halftime. When Olise turned up during the break, he scored a hat-rick helping the team win.[26] His under-7 coach described him as "an unselfish player" who "scored a lot of goals but probably set up even more".[26] He was scouted by several academies and went on to have a brief spell at Arsenal but eventually opted for a team closer to home.[17][23]
By the age of seven, Olise entered Chelsea Academy where he met Jamal Musiala.[27][28] At Chelsea, he was described as talented but challenging; he had an obsession with wearing the No 10 shirt before the line-up is finalized and at times uncooperative and disruptive if the training sessions are differently set up.[23] A former Chelsea youth coach characterised the young Olise as "complicated": "He has a very different way of thinking about life, about football. It’s what is his genius, it’s what makes him special."[23] After a "mutual decision", he left Chelsea at 14 years old.[29] He then joined Manchester City but had difficulty adjusting and left soon after.[23] Olise went without a club for six months.[30]
Reading
2017–19: Rise to the first team
"He has magic. His shyness always disappeared when the ball appeared. That's when he transformed."
After a scout recommended Olise to Reading, he began with the academy in a trial basis in August 2016.[32] Reading's head of recruitment noted that he has a reserved personality but has total confidence in his footballing abilities, adding: "We just let Michael be Michael. Let him do what he does with a football. We never tried to take that creativity out of him."[23] By July 2018, Olise was inducted into Reading Academy's scholarship program.[33]
The club's first team coach, José Gomes, discovered Olise during a youth team match and wanted to promote him in the first team immediately, stating: "His first touch, his intelligence, and the way he positioned himself to start a play were already phenomenal". However, the youth academy directors initially dissuaded Gomes as Olise who "did not like to study" wasn't fulfilling his obligations as a student within the plan established for him.[31][34] After some time, the academy drew up a programme to prepare him for his debut in the EFL Championship. Olise was "gangly" and "not very strong" to endure physical challenges so Gomes told his players to tackle him hard to toughen him up and teach him what professional football is like.[35][34]
2019–21: Championship debut and EFL Young Player of the Season
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At 17 years old, on 12 March 2019, Olise made his EFL Championship debut for Reading in a 3–0 home defeat to Leeds United.[36] He was awarded Scholar of the Season in May and, after starting against Stoke City, became the youngest player in the whole of the Championship to play more than once in the season.[37] On 15 July, he signed a three-year professional contract with the club.[38] In his sophomore season, Olise made 19 appearances – 13 of them starts.[35] He scored his first league goal for Reading on 19 September 2020, volleying home in the 76th minute with the second goal in a 2–0 win over Barnsley at the Madejski Stadium.[39] He was named EFL Young Player of the Month in December 2020.[40]
In his third year, Olise started in 37 matches – seven more as substitute – contributed 12 assists, and scored seven goals including an 89th-minute winner at QPR on his 19th birthday.[41] Olise's winning goal was described by QPR manager Mark Warburton as a "world-class strike".[42] His performance placed him among the best players for creativity in the top two divisions of England, and along the top tiers of Spain, Germany, France and Italy.[35] He won the EFL Young Player of the Season[43] and was included in the EFL Championship Team of the Season[44] and PFA Team of the Year – Championship.[45] Olise was highly sought-after during the transfer window and attracted interest from European and Premiere League clubs including Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, and Chelsea.[46][47]
Crystal Palace
2021–22: Premiere League debut
On 8 July 2021, Olise signed a five-year deal with Premier League side Crystal Palace after they had activated his £8 million release clause.[48] On 11 September, he made his Premier League debut for the club in a 3–0 home win against Tottenham Hotspur after coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute in place of Jordan Ayew.[49][50] Later that month, on 23 September, Olise made his full debut for Crystal Palace in a 1–1 home draw against Newcastle United.[51] On 3 October 2021, Olise scored his first Premier League goal for the club as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 home draw against Leicester City. In doing so he became Palace's youngest Premier League scorer since Clinton Morrison in 1998.[52][53]
2022–23: League and club records and contract extension
On 9 April 2023, Olise became the youngest player to assist three goals from open play in a single Premier League match in a 5–1 victory against Leeds United.[54] On 13 May, he became the first Palace player to register ten assists in a single Premier League season, setting up Eberechi Eze's second goal in a 2–0 win against Bournemouth.[55] On 17 August 2023, it was announced Olise had signed a new four-year deal with Crystal Palace, amidst reports that he was on the verge of re-joining Chelsea.[56]
2023–24: Injury, comeback, and PFA Young Player of the Year nomination
Olise suffered a hamstring injury described by Palace manager Roy Hodgson as "serious" in a 4–1 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion on 3 February 2024, having only just come on as a substitute.[57] He returned from injury in April that year, which was followed by strong performances including scoring a brace in a 4–0 victory over Manchester United on 6 May.[58][59] He eventually concluded the season with ten goals and six assists in just 19 appearances across the season, having been invigorated under new coach Oliver Glasner, and was later nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year.[60] His impressive form attracted interest from other Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United.[61][62] On 7 July, Crystal Palace announced that they had completed a permanent transfer for Olise to Bayern Munich.[63][64]
Bayern Munich
2024–25: Bundesliga Rookie of the Season
On 7 July 2024, Bundesliga club Bayern Munich announced the signing of Olise from Crystal Palace on a five-year contract valid through to 30 June 2029,[65] for a reported transfer fee of €60m including add-ons.[66] Olise made his debut as a substitute in a 4–0 DFB-Pokal win against SSV Ulm on 16 August, registering an assist for Kingsley Coman's goal within two minutes of entering the pitch.[67] On 14 September, he scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 6–1 victory over Holstein Kiel.[68] Three days later, he scored a brace, his first goals at the Allianz Arena, on his UEFA Champions League debut, a 9–2 win over Dinamo Zagreb.[69] He concluded his debut season with 12 goals and 15 assists, ending as the league's top assist provider.[70] His performances earned him a spot in the 2024–25 Bundesliga Team of the Season, as well as the league’s Rookie of the Season award.[71][72]
On 15 June 2025, he netted a brace in a 10–0 win against Auckland City in the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup,[73] before scoring the winner in a 2–1 victory against Boca Juniors, securing his club's qualification to the competition's knockout phase.[74] The following month, he was nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or.[75]
2025–26: VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season
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On 22 August 2025, Olise scored his first goals of the season by netting a brace in a 6–0 win over RB Leipzig.[76] On 15 April 2026, he netted a stoppage-time winner in a 4–3 triumph over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, sending his team through to the semi-finals.[77] A month later, on 9 May, he scored in a 1–0 away win over Wolfsburg, becoming only the second player since detailed records began in 2004–05 to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single Bundesliga season, after Jadon Sancho in 2019–20.[78] He was later named VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season.[79]
International career
Eligible to represent four countries internationally through parentage and birth, Olise was approached by the football federations of England,[80] Algeria,[81] and Nigeria[82] but declined all to commit to France.[83] He has expressed that he "always had a connection with the France national team… It's been my dream since I was little".[84][85] Olise's mother sent highlight tapes of her son to the French Football Federation which was eventually seen by Jean-Luc Vannuchi, the coach of the French national under-18 team at the time.[19]
Youth
On 27 May 2019, Olise was called up to the France national under-18 team for the 2019 Toulon Tournament.[86] He made his debut on 2 June 2019, against Qatar U23. In March 2021, Olise was named as a standby for the Nigeria squad taking part in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho.[87] In March 2022, Olise was called up to the France under-21 team for the first time,[88] and made his debut in the side's 2–0 win over the Faroe Islands on 24 March.[89]
On 8 July 2024, he was called up in France's final squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics.[90] He had previously received his first cap with the French Olympic team on 4 July during a friendly game against Paraguay.[91] One week later, on 11 July, he scored his first two goals during another friendly match, a 7–0 win against the Dominican Republic.[92] On 24 July, during France's Olympic opener against the United States, he scored a goal, contributing to the team's 3–0 victory.[93] He ended the tournament with two goals and five assists as France finished runners-up, winning the silver medal.
Senior
On 29 August 2024, Olise was called up to the senior France national team for the first time by manager Didier Deschamps, for their matches against Italy and Belgium in the UEFA Nations League.[94][95] He made his debut on 6 September against Italy at the Parc des Princes, starting the game and playing 58 minutes in a 3–1 loss.[96]
On 23 March 2025, he scored his first senior goal for France in a 2–0 win over Croatia in the second leg of the Nations League quarter-finals, also recording an assist to help his side overturn a two-goal aggregate deficit and advance to the next stage of the competition.[97] During the Nations League Finals on 8 June, he netted in a 2–0 victory against Germany in the third place play-off.[98]
On 11 May 2026, he was named in the France squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[99] A month later, on 8 June, he netted his first international hat-trick in a 3–1 friendly victory over Northern Ireland.[100] He made his World Cup debut against Senegal, providing an assist and earning Superior Player of the Match honours in a 3–1 victory.[101][102] He provided two assists in a 3–0 win over Sweden in the round of 32, bringing his total to five assists in the tournament, becoming the first player to reach that tally since Thomas Häßler in 1994.[103] Olise received a yellow card against Paraguay in the Round of 16 after a late clash with Matías Galarza, putting him at risk of suspension in the later stages.[104] In the semi-final against Spain, he had limited influence, completing no dribbles and registering no shots on target against Spain's defensive structure in a match that ended in a 2–0 defeat.[105] After featuring in the third-place match, in which France suffered a 6–4 defeat to England, Olise provided two assists.[106][107] With a total of seven assists, he finished the tournament as the highest goal provider, and surpassed Pelé's record in 1970 for the most assists in a single World Cup since records began in 1966.[108]
Player profile
Style of play
"Michael is a different kind of player. The way he interacts with play is different; he sees it in his mind rather than with his eyes."
Olise possesses a range of passing skills, which he can often use to play behind the opposition's defence or switch the angle of attack. He likes to operate 50 to 30 yards out from goal in the right half-space, where he can use various options to continue the attack. Though mainly left footed, Olise is also capable of scoring with either of his feet.[109][110]
On the ball, Olise is an agile and mobile player. He is capable of turning quickly with good acceleration and change of pace, even when he is dribbling in very tight spaces or running with the ball.[111] Olise liked Neymar's "tricky style of play" adding: "You learn things from lots of players, though – that way you become complete."[20]
Personality
Olise's composure and effortless demeanour on and off the pitch led to him being nicknamed Mr. Nonchalant by fans and various media outlets.[8][112][113][114][115] His muted goal celebrations trace back to his boyhood where, after a goal, "he would put his finger to his mouth and run back to his position, looking at the ground".[17] Since becoming professional, his most used goal celebration involves "plugging an ear with one hand and making a 'shhh' gesture with the other."[2] Former teammates and coaches have explained that, rather than arrogance, this behaviour comes from Olise not wanting to draw attention to himself as he simply sees scoring goals as part of his job.[31][116][117]
Introverted and reserved, Olise avoids the press.[118][119] His rare on-camera interviews and media appearances – whether in English or French – are known to feature short and deadpan responses.[120][121] Olise's former Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner explained, "He is what he is: a soft-spoken man of few words. He does his talking on the pitch. He's a footballer, not an orator. Michael is a great person. I think it's important that people accept him for who he is."[122] This was echoed by his former France national team coach Didier Deschamps stating that Olise is "not a very expressive character. He's rather introverted, but he’s very endearing."[123]
Since his professional debut, Olise has eschewed official brand or boot sponsorships which, for the New York Times, is a personal decision that means forgoing "millions of pounds" annually.[124] Olise wanted the creative freedom to coordinate his boots with whatever kit he wears.[125][124] He is usually seen wearing the long-discontinued Nike Hypervenom III, scoured from resale sites, which he gets customised in a workshop in Edinburgh.[126] Matt DiGiacomo, former creative director of Chrome Hearts, customised a pair of Hypervenoms for Olise during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[124]
Reception
"He’s an outstanding player. For football fans everywhere, he’s a pleasure to watch."
A "wonderkid" in his teens,[127][128] Olise went "under-the-radar"[129] before establishing himself as one of the best players in the world in his early 20s.[A] Described as a "cerebral player,"[130] he is considered a "rarity in modern football" for being "a true flair player with the end product to match. A player whose output matches their creativity."[131]
Since committing to represent France internationally, the English press has been "torn between fascination and regret" regarding Olise.[132] Writing for The Telegraph, sports writer Sam Dean lamented that "It is a failure of English football that London-born Olise now stars for France".[133] Olise, who has not played in France's top-flight Ligue 1, first became known to the French public during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Since his call-up to the senior team, The Times and The Guardian have noted that Olise has captivated the French people with a string of impressive performances.[134][135] Le Monde has described him as a "heaven-sent prodigy" for Les Bleus.[136]
Personal life
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 23 May 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Reading | 2018–19[138] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[139] | Championship | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21[140] | Championship | 44 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 46 | 7 | |||
| Total | 67 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 73 | 7 | ||||
| Crystal Palace | 2021–22[141] | Premier League | 26 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 4 | ||
| 2022–23[142] | Premier League | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24[143] | Premier League | 19 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 10 | |||
| Total | 82 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 90 | 16 | ||||
| Bayern Munich | 2024–25[144] | Bundesliga | 34 | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | 14[c] | 5 | 5[d] | 3 | 55 | 20 | |
| 2025–26[145] | Bundesliga | 32 | 15 | 6 | 2 | — | 13[c] | 5 | 1[e] | 0 | 52 | 22 | ||
| Total | 66 | 27 | 8 | 2 | — | 27 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 107 | 42 | |||
| Career total | 215 | 47 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 270 | 64 | ||
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
- Appearance in Franz Beckenbauer Supercup
International
- As of match played 18 July 2026[146]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 2024 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2026 | 12 | 3 | |
| Total | 25 | 7 | |
- As of match played 18 July 2026
- France score listed first, score column indicates score after each Olise goal[146]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 March 2025 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France | 6 |  Croatia | 1–0 | 2–0 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A | [147] |
| 2 | 8 June 2025 | MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany | 8 |  Germany | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals | [148] |
| 3 | 5 September 2025 | Wrocław Stadium, Wrocław, Poland | 9 |  Ukraine | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | [149] |
| 4 | 13 November 2025 | Parc des Princes, Paris, France | 13 | Ukraine | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | [150] |
| 5 | 8 June 2026 | Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France | 17 |  Northern Ireland | 1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly | [151] |
| 6 | 2–0 | |||||||
| 7 | 3–1 |
Honours
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2024–25,[152] 2025–26[153]
- DFB-Pokal: 2025–26[154]
- Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 2025[155]
France U23
- Summer Olympics silver medal: 2024[156]
France
- UEFA Nations League third place: 2024–25[157]
Individual
- Ballon d’Or nominee: 2025[75]
- Bayern Munich Player of the Season: 2024–25,[158] 2025–26[159]
- Bundesliga Goal of the Month: April 2026, May 2026[160]
- Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2025–26[161]
- Bundesliga Rookie of the Season: 2024–25[162]
- Bundesliga Player of the Month: April 2025,[163] November 2025, January 2026[164]
- Bundesliga Rookie of the Month: October 2024[165]
- Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2024–25,[166] 2025–26[167]
- Crystal Palace Goal of the Season: 2022–23[168]
- Crystal Palace Players' Player of the Season: 2022–23[169]
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2020–21[44]
- EFL Championship Young Player of the Season: 2020–21[43]
- EFL Young Player of the Month: December 2020[170]
- FIFA World Cup Dream XI: 2026[171]
- IFFHS Playmaker of the World Cup: 2026[172]
- IFFHS Team of the World Cup: 2026[173]
- London Football Awards Goal of the Season: Crystal Palace vs Luton Town[174]
- PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 Championship[45]
- PFA Young Player of the Year nominee: 2023–24[60]
- Premier League Goal of the Month: January 2023[175]
- Reading Scholar of the Season: 2018−19[176]
- VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2025–26[177]
- VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2024–25,[178] 2025–26[177]
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2025–26[179]
- UNFP Best French Player Playing Abroad: 2025–26[180]
Orders
Records
- Most assists in a single World Cup (7): 2026[182][183]
- First player in history to be top assist provider in the World Cup (7), Champions League (6), and league (19) in the same season: 2025–26[184]
- Youngest Premier League player to provide three assists from open play in a single match (21 years 118 days): 2022–23[185]
