New head of defense for FC Bayern Munich. Matthijs de Ligt is moving from Juventus to Munich.
The club announced this on Tuesday. Sky already reported on Sunday an agreement between the two clubs. The German record champions reached an oral agreement with de Ligt himself a few days ago.
According to Sky Infos, De Ligt will cost FC Bayern a fixed fee of 70 million euros. There can also be tens of millions in bonus payments. The Dutch international has committed himself to his new club until 2027.
The tall central defender moved from Ajax Amsterdam to Juventus Turin in 2019. He made 117 competitive appearances for both clubs (21 goals in total) and won both the Dutch and Italian championships once each.
Kahn zu de Ligt: “Qualities are very important for us”
“Matthijs de Ligt not only impresses in top international football with his playful qualities, but also as a guy who always leads in all his teams,” said CEO Oliver Kahn according to the Bayern announcement. “He learned to take responsibility at a young age. A strong team doesn’t just need a strong offensive, and with this transfer we are strengthening our defense at an absolutely top level.”
After the transfer of star striker Sadio Mané, the commitment of the 22-year-old is the next coup by Bavaria’s sports director Hasan Salihamidzic. On Tuesday, de Ligt traveled to his new teammates in the USA.
Neuer to de Ligt: “Of course, a player like that is a great fit”
The Munich and the defender, who was also courted by Chelsea FC, had long since verbally agreed on a change. The sale of Robert Lewandowski to FC Barcelona should have increased Bayern’s financial leeway and now accelerated the second most expensive purchase in Bundesliga history. Only for the signing of Lucas Hernández did Munich pay even more in 2019. Together, de Ligt and the French now form the most expensive defensive duo in the world.
Munich have been missing a boss in defense since David Alaba left for Real Madrid on a free transfer last year. De Ligt became captain of Ajax Amsterdam at the age of 18 and was an indispensable part of the Amsterdam Revival squad that only lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2018/19.
(sport.sky.de/APA).
Featured image: Imago.
