The Bungesliga champions have completed the signing of Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus. According to a statement from the club, the Dutchman joins on a five-year deal and will don the number 4 shirt throughout his time at the Allianz Arena.
De Ligt had interest from Premier League side Chelsea, too, but chose to sign for the Bavarians instead on a five-year contract, which will run until the end of the 2026/27 season as things stand. As per Fabrizio Romano, Bayern have paid their Italian counterparts a 70 million euro fee upfront to complete the transfer, with a further 10 million potentially payable later in add-ons.
De Ligt, who will wear the number four throughout his time in Munich, has become Bayern’s fourth signing of the season. The Bavarians signed Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch from AFC Ajax earlier in the window before splashing the cash on Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.
The club offset some of the transfer fees spent by selling Robert Lewandowski to FC Barcelona for 45 million.
Speaking to the Bayern website, the Dutch international claimed that he felt appreciated by the Bayern hierarchy, which helped him make the switch from Juventus after three seasons in Turin.
“FC Bayern are the most successful club in Germany, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and in the world. I felt the genuine appreciation from the sporting management, the coach, and the board right from the start, which convinced me.
On top of that, FC Bayern is a brilliantly run club with big aims. I’m very glad that I’m now becoming part of the FC Bayern story,”
the 22-year-old said.
De Ligt joined Juventus in 2019 from Ajax for 75 million, following a breakthrough campaign with the Amsterdam side, whom he captained to the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League semi-finals. He made 117 appearances in Italy in the three subsequent seasons and scored eight goals, winning a total of three titles in the process.
