Leverkusen's wing 'rabbit' raring to go

Stats correct as of 27 July 2025

Farid Alfa-Ruprecht
Age: 19 (born 28 March 2006)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Right/left winger
Country: Germany (eight youth caps, one goal)

The teenage winger developed in the youth ranks of Hamburg, having been born in the North German city, before joining the Manchester City academy at the age of 15. He scored five goals and six assists in the 2023/24 U18 English Premier League and backed that up with seven goals and three assists in just 12 appearances for City's reserve team in 2024/25.

Alfa-Ruprecht won silverware in Manchester in the shape of the 2023/24 FA Youth Cup. He has also made nine appearances over three seasons for City's UEFA Youth League team, scoring four goals and providing one assist. He was once called up into the first-team squad by former Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola in an EFL Cup tie at Tottenham in October 2024, in which he was an unused substitute. 

After appearing for Germany U16 and U17, the talent made four appearances for Germany U18 in 2024 and scored his first international goal in a 1-1 draw against Denmark. 

Plays a bit like: Michael Olise

While Alfa-Ruprecht is yet to appear in first-team football, he packs the special combination of pace and trickery that could make him as much as a handful for opposing defences one day as Bayern wing wizard Olise. Alfa-Ruprecht gained the nickname 'rabbit' for his speed from Man City's academy director, Thomas Krücken. That both players developed in England is another parallel, with Alfa-Ruprecht attributing his eye-popping range of skills to being a "street footballer at heart."

Did you know?

As a youngster at Hamburg, Alfa-Ruprecht idolised former HSV and Eintracht Frankfurt winger Filip Kostić, telling Transfermarkt: "We play in the same position and I liked his style of football straight away." 

What they're saying

"There is nothing better for me than being on the pitch and just playing. I need my freedom on the pitch, so I don't want to be a robot player who stubbornly does everything according to the formula." - Alfa-Ruprecht explains his creative playing style.

"Farid Alfa-Ruprecht made a big impact as a wide player in the English U21 league. A strong goal-scoring record, incredible speed, and great footballing talent make him a highly interesting prospect for our first team." - Bayer Leverkusen Sporting Director, Simon Rolfes

"We clearly see the potential in Farid to become an important player for Bayer 04 in the future." - Leverkusen Director of Football, Kim Falkenberg.