Augsburg confirm contract extension for American prospect Noahkai Banks | OneFootball

American youth international Noahkai Banks has received a lucrative contract extension with his Bundesliga club. The 18-year-old central defender signed a new Augsburg deal on Monday. Banks’ new contract in the Fuggerstadt runs through 2027.

The mixed heritage Banks came up through the Augsburg youth academy, yet has always opted to represent the country of his father internationally. Banks has now been capped 11 times at United States U20 level and below. He’s been working in the FCA academy since 2015.

In terms of his career in the country of his mother, the Honolulu-native received his first Augsburg professional contract 11 months ago in July 2024. He made eight Bundesliga appearances under former FCA head coach Jess Thorup this past season.

Though Banks didn’t exactly find a way of breaking into Thorup’s back-three, he remains a highly regarded prospect with an estimated market value of €6m. Kicker and other reliable German footballing media sources report that AS Roma offered €12m for Banks in the recent January transfer window.

Banks may play a more significant role in the plans of newly appointed Augsburg head-coach Sandro Wagner, who could potentially deploy a back-four.

“Noahkai has already demonstrated great potential,” Augsburg managing director Michael Ströll noted in an FCA statement accompanying the announcement of the new deal. “He has shown that he can hold his own in professional football. We’re delighted that Noahkai has committed himself to FCA for the long term.”

“I’m hungry for more and want to take the next steps in my development,” Banks added in his own statement. “The club has a clear plan for me and is committed to me long term. I’m looking forward to the next few years together.”

GGFN | Peter Weis