Bayern sign Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus on a 5-year deal until 2027
Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have confirmed what was an open secret; the signing of Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt for a fee that, according to German media, is estimated to be around 80 million euros: 70 million euros fixed plus 10 million euros in variables.
The former Juventus centre-back will immediately join the Munich team’s training camp in the United States, where he will take part in a number of friendly matches.
De Ligt has signed for five seasons and will strengthen the backline of a team that has already added Sadio Mane, Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch.
“I’m very happy to be a player at this great club. FC Bayern is the most successful club in Germany, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and also in the world”, De Ligt said after the deal was confirmed.
“Right from the start I felt honest appreciation of the sporting management, the coach, and the board, that convinced me. In addition, FC Bayern is an excellently managed club with big goals. I’m very happy to be part of Bayern Munich’s history”, he added.
The Dutchman is the cherry on top of a spectacular squad in which the winners of the last nine Bundesliga titles are aiming to win everything, in Germany and in Europe.
“Matthijs de Ligt has impressed at the highest international level, not just with his technical qualities but also as a character who leads in all his teams,” Bayern CEO Oliver Khan said.
“At his young age he’s already learned about taking responsibility. A strong team doesn’t just require a strong attack, and with this signing we’re really raising our defence to the top level”, he added.
De Ligt is one of the biggest transfers so far this summer, only surpassed by the 80m euro fixed price of Tchouameni who moved from Monaco to Real Madrid; Darwin Nunez from Benfica to Liverpool, who cost 75m euros fixed plus 25 in variables; and above other bigger names such as Haaland with a price tag of 60m euros from Dortmund to Manchester City and Lewandowski who cost 45 million euros from Bayern Munich to Barcelona.
After bursting onto the scene with perennial Eredivisie winners Ajax, De Ligt joined Juventus in the summer of 2019 for around €75m (£63.9m).
The 6t 2in defender had two years remaining on his Juve contract, but he has decided to leave the club after three years in Turin, where he won the Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.
De Ligt scored eight goals in 117 games for the Italian giants across all competitions and made 42 appearances last season.
The 38-cap Netherlands international could make his competitive debut for Bayern against RB Leipzig in the DFL-Supercup on July 30.
Juventus have allegedly already found a replacement for De Ligt, with journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming that the Old Lady have reached an agreement with Torino to sign Gleison Bremer for €40m (£34m) plus add-ons.
