Bayern Munich have announced the double signing of Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels and reported Manchester United target Renato Sanches.
Sanches, the 18-year-old Benfica and Portugal midfielder, was confirmed as the club’s first summer signing for an initial €35million (£27.5m).
11.07: Bayern sign Renato Sanches.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 10, 2016
11.37: Bayern sign Mats Hummels.
5th consecutive title next season? 👍👍👍👍👍 pic.twitter.com/znqQFsrvOI
And just minutes later, the long-awaited deal for Hummels was announced by both Bayern and Dortmund. The 27-year-old has signed a five-year deal, subject to a medical, after the club agreed an undisclosed fee reported as €38m (£30m).
Hummels made the switch from Bayern to Dortmund in 2008 having made only one first-team appearance for the Bavarian side, and has since established himself as a key man for club and country.
“We’re delighted that Mats Hummels has decided to join Bayern,” said Bayern’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on his club’s website.
“Mats is one of the best central defenders in the world and we’re able to improve the quality of our team even further with him.”
OFFICIAL: Bayern Munich announce the signing of defender Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund until 2021. pic.twitter.com/n99EzM5MMn
— Deji Kofi Faremi (@deejayfaremi) May 10, 2016
Hummels had informed Dortmund recently of his desire to leave them this summer, a year before his contract in Westphalia was due to expire, and return to Munich.
But he told the club’s website: “This was not an easy decision for me after eight and a half successful years with BVB.
“I was always proud and still am to wear the BVB shirt and to be part of this extraordinary team.”
Hummels’ current and future employers meet in the final of the DFB-Pokal on May 21 and he stressed he remains committed to Dortmund.
“Before I return to my home city in the summer, we still have the huge, mutual goal of bringing the DFB-Pokal back to Dortmund and celebrating a huge festival of football with the BVB fans,” he said.
“I and my team-mates will give everything for that.”
Hummels follows Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze in leaving Dortmund for Bayern in recent seasons.
Dortmund host Cologne on Saturday in their final league game of the season and general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke has appealed to his club’s fans to back rather than barrack their departing captain.
“I would like to stress that Mats behaved very openly and fairly towards us at all times,” he said.
“Mats won two Bundesliga titles with BVB, and the double in 2012. He reached the final of the Champions League with us in 2013 and became world champion in 2014 while a Dortmund player.
“We respect Mats’ decision and hope that, both for him and BVB, he receives the recognition during his last few weeks for the Black-and-Yellows that he deserves, and that he leaves Dortmund with the DFB-Pokal in his hands.”
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