Michael Olise's journey from being released by both Chelsea and Manchester City as a teenager to becoming one of Europe's most sought-after talents reads like a football fairytale. Born in London to a French-Algerian mother and Nigerian father, the winger showed exceptional ability across multiple sports from an early age, though his quiet personality often went unnoticed.

Reading took a chance on the 16-year-old in 2018, activating his £8m release clause when Crystal Palace came calling in July 2021. After Chelsea triggered a £35m buyout clause in summer 2023, Palace surprisingly retained him, and Olise rewarded that faith with 10 goals and six assists in just 19 appearances during an injury-disrupted final campaign.

His performances earned a place in France's Olympic squad under Thierry Henry, catching the attention of Bayern Munich who secured his signature for approximately £50m. The German giants unlocked his full potential, with Olise delivering 88 goal involvements across two seasons - 25 goals and 28 assists in his most recent campaign.

Former France internationals Olivier Giroud and Gael Clichy praise his team-first mentality and technical quality. Despite his meteoric rise to stardom, Olise maintains the same understated approach that defined his childhood - avoiding celebrations and media attention. This quiet professionalism could prove invaluable as he targets a World Cup spot with France next summer.