In the meantime, Peretz has pre-season at his new club, where he seeks to endear himself to Munich fans ahead of a long Bundesliga season. Peretz is one of only a handful of Israeli-born football stars playing in Europe. Football was his primary focus growing up, despite excelling in national water skiing competitions. “Since I was born, I knew I wanted to be a football player. Even when I was three or four, I always had a football in my hands,” he recalls.
Daniel Peretz playing for Bayern Munich (Getty)Getty Images
A much-envied German passport (a rarity in Israeli sport), thanks to having a German-born grandmother, facilitated Peretz’s 2023 move to Bayern Munich, a club he has supported since he was a child.
Over two seasons at Bayern, Peretz has started matches in both the Bundesliga (Germany’s top football league) and Europe’s premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League. “Playing in the UCL was my dream as a kid. It feels amazing,” Peretz said. “It gave me more hunger to achieve more in these tournaments. I'm really hungry now.”
Peretz was signed by Bayern as a long-term replacement for German football legend Manuel Neuer, whom Peretz idolized growing up: “He was a player I used to watch. Now that I’ve gotten to know him, he’s one of my best friends, and he’s a great person too,” says Peretz.
Being a goalkeeper is demanding, and Peretz’s schedule is certainly intense. The long football season includes a well-deserved break in June, but many clubs require their players to begin training six weeks before the new season starts.
Peretz explains that a typical week consists of a weekend match, followed by a day off, with the rest of the week dedicated to training. At a club like Bayern, the multitude of staff create personalized training programmes for each player. “Every week has a different load management,” Peretz noted. “I try to push myself and develop every week, every day, to reach my best self.”
The Tel Aviv-born goalkeeper has been loaned out to Hamburg for the 2025/26 season but is expected to return to Bayern next summer. At Hamburg, Peretz is poised to thrive, with the opportunity to gain valuable first-team experience. Hamburg’s sporting director, Claus Costa, commented on the club’s new recruit on the Bundesliga website: “Daniel is a complete goalkeeper who defends his box bravely and has an excellent mentality.”
In a spring 2024 interview with Ynetnews, Peretz recalled how the German football world responded to the tragic events of October 7. “They provided the support, a feeling of real home. It was an immense pride to be in such a club. There was also tremendous support in the city. People encouraged me on the street, and many Israelis came to the games. I was most moved when I met with families of the hostages who came to visit, as well as soldiers and police officers. People look at us and admire us as soccer players, but they are the real heroes – they protect us, give us a sense of security. I admire each one of them for their sacrifice for the country.”
Life in Germany has not been without its challenges, however, and the 6'2” athlete has had his struggles since arriving. “My biggest sacrifice to reach this level of success is being far from home, away from family and friends,” Peretz told the JC.
Daniel and Noa in Germany (Getty)Alamy Stock Photo
Fortunately, the comforting presence of his famous fiancée, Kirel, 24, has helped him adapt, and in a recent video on Bayern’s YouTube channel, Peretz discusses how life in Europe differs from his life back home. “It’s easier for Noa and me in Germany because we have more privacy. When we’re in Israel, we don’t have that privacy when we go out. But we are super grateful to our fans.”
Daniel playing for Israel during the UEFA Nations League (Getty)AFP via Getty Images
Peretz takes immense pride in representing Israel, which he has done at a senior level seven times. This included an incredible performance against France in the UEFA Nations League last November, where he made eight saves to keep a clean sheet. “To play for my country is the best feeling. You have so much responsibility and the power to influence and make people happy. So, it’s an amazing privilege that I have.”
When asked which three people he would invite to his ultimate Friday night dinner, Peretz says: “Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Jordan, and [author] Robin Sharma.”
The 25-year-old is excited about his future and his view matches that of both Israeli and German media. His rise has been unprecedented for an Israeli, but Peretz continues to reach new heights.
Noa and Daniel visit Oktoberfest (Alamy)Alamy Stock Photo