Top defender at record champions
Matthijs de Ligt deal fixed – Munich residents are now Europe’s shopping champions
Was already team captain at Ajax at the age of 18: Bayern newcomer Matthijs de Ligt
© Maurice van Steen/ANP / AFP
After Sadio Mané, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui, Bayern Munich are looking forward to defender Matthijs de Ligt. The record champions have already spent around 120 million euros on transfer fees.
Defensive star Matthijs de Ligt’s move to Bayern Munich is perfect. After the agreement between Munich and Juventus Turin, the Dutch national player received a contract until 2027. The German soccer record champion transferred 67 million euros for de Ligt, who was planned as the new defense boss, as Juve announced. The transfer fee is therefore to be paid in four installments. There could also be bonus payments of up to ten million euros.
Kahn full of praise for Matthijs de Ligt
“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 from 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.
Already a captain at the age of 18
De Ligt, on the other hand, 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. Right-back Noussair Mazraoui, who has been a Bayern professional since this summer, was also part of this young team at the time.
With around 120 million euros in transfer fees, the Munich-based company has chosen to be one of the shopping champions in Europe, at least for the time being. “The clubs are getting stronger everywhere. The race doesn’t stop now,” said CEO Kahn.