Alex Jankewitz was just 19 when he lined up for his full Premier League debut at Old Trafford in February 2021, but his first league start for Southampton is remembered for all the wrong reasons.
The Swiss midfielder lasted just two minutes before being sent off for a reckless challenge on Scott McTominay. What makes this worse is that Jankewitz’s early dismissal played a large part in his teammates suffering a 9-0 defeat.
Manager at the time, Ralph Hasenhüttl, had made the decision to start the youngster following three consecutive defeats, perhaps also influenced by noises that Jankewitz felt he was good enough for the first team and had started to consider a move elsewhere despite his youth.
The decision clearly backfired but, surprisingly, Jankewitz continued to be involved with the first team squad; albeit he would not make another appearance.
Alex Jankewitz returns to homeland to join current Champions League side
That fateful night at Old Trafford would be the last time Jankewitz represented Southampton at senior level. Following an impressive showing in the European under-21 Championship, in which Jankewitz’s Switzerland defeated England, Jankewitz signed for Swiss giants Young Boys in the summer of 2021 for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £400,000.
The midfielder, now 21, clearly felt at the time he was not going to get the opportunities to progress at Southampton and said upon signing for the Swiss side: “The move to YB is exactly the right step for me to develop at a high level”.
Despite the move taking place over two years ago, Jankewitz has only made 13 appearances for the 15-time Swiss top flight winners, scoring once. Clearly, this is not how the man capped 20 times by his nation’s under-21 side would have envisaged the move going, however he does have youth on his side.
Jankewitz enjoying regular game time on loan
Jankewitz may not have been able to secure regular football at Young Boys, but that does not mean he has not been developing since his Southampton departure.
In his first season in Switzerland, Jankewitz was loaned to fellow Swiss Super League club St Gallen in January. There he made 16 appearances, the majority of which came from the bench, but managed a respectable four assists.
Last season, the midfielder – who can also play right-back – had to swallow his pride having felt he was ready for Premier League football at 19 and join Swiss second tier side FC Thun.
Whilst this may not have been as glamorous as the bright lights of Young Boys, or even St Gallen, this allowed Jankewitz to gain what he desired most: game-time.
It was at FC Thun that Jankewitz was a key player for the first time in his career. The midfielder made 29 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and assisting twice whilst being regularly deployed in a less familiar right-midfield role. FC Thun finished the season in seventh in the second division and Jankewitz returned to his parent club.
This season, any hopes of push for a starting berth at Young Boys were quickly dampened as Jankewitz was again sent on loan, this time to FC Winterthur.
So far this season, the former Saint has played 14 games in all competitions and contributed five assists from his more familiar central midfield position. However, his temporary club are struggling and sit second bottom of the table in their second season back in the Swiss top flight.
Was Jankewitz right to leave Southampton?
Jankewitz may not yet have made the grade at Young Boys despite joining the club in 2021, but he has been gaining valuable experience elsewhere in Switzerland in his three loan spells.
There are not many 19-year-olds who are playing regularly for Premier League sides at any one time and perhaps in hindsight Jankewitz may feel he was too impatient, especially when Hasenhüttl clearly rated the young talent.
That being said, there is no substitute for senior matches when it comes to player development, as current Southampton academy graduate Dom Ballard is showing at Reading.
If Jankewitz felt that would not be forthcoming at Southampton then he likely made the right choice to seek football elsewhere.
Whether the grass was greener for Jankewitz is still to be determined, but his career is likely to be one worth keeping an eye on.