Jamal Musiala: The Lion That Got Away

Jamal Musiala plays football in a way that demands silence. Not in the sense of muting a crowd, but in how he moves. Head up, shoulders low, gliding with a quiet grace that looks almost meditative. And while his brilliance for Bayern Munich and Germany is now well established, one question continues to echo among England supporters: how did he slip away?

To many, it still feels a little surreal. Musiala was raised in England, developed in England, educated through the English school system and the England youth setup. His accent is unmistakably southern, his footballing identity shaped in West London. Yet, when international allegiances were decided, he chose Germany.

Nobody can dispute that this was Musiala’s choice, made thoughtfully, with maturity and respect. Still, it remains one of the biggest what-ifs in recent England memory.

A Footballing Education in England

Musiala was born in Stuttgart in 2003 but moved to England before his teenage years. Settling in South London, he attended primary school in New Malden and secondary school in Croydon, all while rising through Chelsea’s academy. He was integrated into the England youth system from an early age, representing the country at Under-15, Under-16, Under-17 and Under-21 levels. From the outside, he looked like a natural successor in England’s new golden generation.

When he left Chelsea in 2019 to join Bayern Munich, few expected it to affect his international future. But that move proved to be the beginning of a more complex journey.

Why Germany?

The turning point came in early 2021. Musiala had broken through at Bayern, playing Champions League football regularly, and suddenly had a choice to make. Both the FA and the DFB wanted him. He spoke openly about the difficulty of the decision, acknowledging his deep connection to both countries. He even described England as feeling like home.

But Germany’s approach was persuasive. They did not simply offer him a place in the squad, they made him feel essential. Bayern Munich’s influence cannot be ignored either. Playing and training in a German-speaking environment, surrounded by figures tied to the national team, the message was reinforced consistently. This is where you belong. This is where you are valued most.

Had he stayed at Chelsea, or at least remained within English football, the daily influences around him may have been very different. His development would still have been elite, but the voices in his ear, the national narrative, and the sense of connection to England’s long-term plans might have strengthened. In the end, geography and environment can shape identity just as much as heritage can.

England’s midfield was full of talent, but perhaps lacked that one player with Musiala’s unique profile. A press-resistant dribbler with vision, calmness, and the ability to glide through tight spaces. The kind of player who breaks structure, but in a way that unlocks defences.

The Bigger Picture

This is not a story of entitlement. Musiala had every right to follow the path that suited him best. He made a personal decision, and he made it with integrity. Yet there is still room to reflect on what England lost.

In a squad filled with power, pace, and energy, Musiala could have been the perfect creative balance. A player to knit midfield and attack together, to unpick low blocks, to turn draws into wins. England have coped well without him, but the idea of what he could have added still lingers.

What makes the situation more difficult is that England did almost everything right. He was nurtured through the system, given opportunities, supported consistently. There was no fallout or oversight. Sometimes, a player simply chooses a different path.

For England, that path led away from a player who might have been their missing piece. Musiala is not the one who got away because he was pushed, he is the one who got away because he followed his heart.