BAYERN SIGN DE LIGT FOR €80MILLION
Bayern Munich have completed the signing of center back Matthijs de Ligt from Italian powerhouse Juventus for a fee worth up to €80million (£68million). The club announced the signing on Wednesday.
The fee is reported to be €70million (£59.5million) guaranteed with €10million (£8.5million) in add-ons. The 22-year-old Dutch international is set to turn 23 next month and signed a 5-year deal that will keep him in Bavaria until June 2027 with Bayern reported to have been looking for a defender for the present and the future.
Bayern president Herbert Hainer remarked “Matthijs de Ligt was a top target for us. With signings like this, the big aims that we have are achievable. The future face of our team is increasingly taking shape, and this transfer is an important building block in the overall concept that we’re gradually putting into place. De Ligt should become a mainstay at FC Bayern.”
FC Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn said: “Matthijs de Ligt has impressed at the highest international level, not just with his technical abilities but also a character who leads in all his teams. 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.”
In his first interview at Bayern, de Ligt said: “I’m incredibly happy of course. To become part of such a big club with such a big history, the biggest club in Germany, one of the biggest clubs in the world, for me is an amazing honour and I’m really happy to be here.”
De Ligt joined the Ajax Amsterdam academy at just nine years old and made his professional debut for the Dutch champions in 2016 at 17, scoring his first goal in the same game. Wise beyond his years, de Ligt is still the youngest captain in Ajax’s history and the youngest player to make a debut for the Dutch national team since 1945. He would end up winning a domestic double of the Eredivisie and Cup before joining Juventus in 2019, all the while making 117 competitive appearances and scoring 13 goals.
“We wanted to bring Matthijs to Munich three years ago,” said Bayern sporting director, Hasan Salihamidžić. “We were already convinced by his qualities as a defender back then, and today, we’re even more so. With his professionalism, his hunger and his wonderful character, Matthijs fits in with our team and our ambitions. He’ll take an important role at FC Bayern on and off the pitch. He was already a leader as a youngster at Ajax, and at 22, he’s still capable of developing at the high level he’s at.”
“We are very happy he’s signed a five-year contract with us. The great thing is we’ve always kept in touch with him, and now the situation was right, and we made our move. This is a lad who really has a decent character. This is a passionate defender with leadership qualities, a hunger, an unbelievable winning mentality – and someone like that will really fit in well with us.”
De Ligt is both physically and technically gifted, traits that he developed in his younger days playing as an attacking midfielder with Ajax. He not only has great anticipation, clean tackling, speed, and accurate passing, but is also great in the air. He won the Golden Boy award in 2018, an accolade awarded to European football’s most impressive young talent and has been described by Italian journalist Giacomo Chiuchiolo as a “complete” and “talented young defender who possesses excellent positioning and an ability to read the game.”
“With him it was very, very impressive how quickly things progressed,” Kahn added. “He always wanted to come to FC Bayern Munich – there was no other club for him. We all know his qualities. He’s still a very young player but despite that, already very advanced. In the center of defense, he’s strong in the tackle, strong in the air, very robust,, and in particular someone who holds the group together and likes to lead.”
“I always say it’s about the spine. That starts with the goalkeeper, then goes through the centre backs into the midfield and up to the attack. When you have – and thankfully we do – players who spur each other on, who support each other, who help each other, who are vocal on the pitch, that can be a huge help, especially in difficult moments.”
De Ligt said he chose Bayern because he “really felt the love and appreciation from the board, from the trainer” and that it was really important for him. He also added that the reason for his decision is because “Bayern is an amazing club” and “one of the best-run clubs in the world.”
The Leiderdorp-born defender has had a few mediocre campaigns in Northern Italy, making 87 appearances and scoring 8 times, but is set to improve at Bayern considering their type of play. De Ligt said of the playing style in Munich: “I think the way of Bayern is the same way I played at Ajax. At Juventus, it was a little bit different. I think I’m especially a defender but also with good ball-playing skills. I think I’m quite strong, quite fast, and also quite good with my head, so yeah, I think that’s the type of player I am. ”
Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann said in a press conference on Wednesday: “I’m so happy we signed de Ligt. He’s one of the most talented center backs in the world and still young. It’s a good sign for us and the Bundesliga that he chose us. He’s also a goal threat from set pieces, which is important. I hope he’ll score seven to eight goals. It’s a great transfer for us.”
He also revealed that he first got in contact with de Ligt about a month ago and much like Sadio Mane, “he only wanted to join Bayern.” “It’s a good sign for Bayern and the Bundesliga that two players of this caliber have chosen Bayern,” said Nagelsmann. “We lost a forward but gained one and an extra defender. That’s why we’re in a good position.”
De Ligt’s past three years at Juventus came after a €75million move from Ajax Amsterdam in 2019. He still had two more years left on his contract in Turin and left a short message for Juventus fans saying “The time has come to close a very beautiful chapter in my career. Massive thanks to the entire Juventus FC family, club, coaches, players, staff and fans for the love you’ve shown to me. It was an honor to fight by your side and play for this team. Sarete sempre nel mio cuore.”
New Bayern teammates, captain Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich spoke about the 22-year-old centre back. “He was Ajax captain at 19 years old,“ Kimmich said. “That’s not without reason, but because of his ability to lead. Hopefully, he’ll score some goals for us. I think it’s good for us to have someone like him at the back.”
“He is really someone who can lead, who has charisma, who is a great defender,” Neuer added. “From my feeling, as I’ve watched him lately, he’s very close to German football. I don’t think it will take him a long time to integrate. He simply brings qualities and values with him. Things have always worked out well for us with Dutch players. I’ve played with a few before. It is important to show presence in defense. Also in terms of body language, that’s what David Alaba did a lot. Basically, as a defensive player, you’re grateful when you have players who can lead from behind.”
The signing is another piece of good business by Bayern Munich and their front office of Kahn, Hainer, and Salihamidžić. Bayern have made three signings already; getting 20-year-old Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch for €23million from Ajax, Sadio Mane for €41million, selling almost 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona for €50million, and getting Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus for €80million instead of the demanded €100million.
De Ligt joined his new teammates in the United States capital, Washington DC, on Wednesday night. Bayern are currently in the United States for their preseason tour. Manager Julian Nagelsmann is not shying away from more deals this week, as many expect Bayern to make a few more moves before the European transfer window closes on September 1st.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: ОЛЕГ БАТРАК. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.