In Turin, de Ligt has won a Serie A title, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa in his three seasons with the club. — Picture via Facebook
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BERLIN, July 20 — Bayern Munich have signed Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus on a deal until 2027, the German Bundesliga champions said on Tuesday.
Juve said the centre back was signed for a fee of EUR67 million (RM305 million), rising up by a potential EUR10 million based on performance-related bonuses.
“De Ligt was a top target for us. With signings like this, the big aims that we have are achievable,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer said in a statement.
“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.” De Ligt joined Juve in 2019 following his role in helping Ajax Amsterdam reach an improbable Champions League semi-final.
In Turin, he has won a Serie A title, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa in his three seasons with the club, only once finishing a campaign trophyless — last term.
“I felt the genuine appreciation from the sporting management, the coach and the board right from the start, which convinced me,” De Ligt said.
“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 already has 38 caps for the Netherlands and leaves Juventus short of options in central defence, with veteran Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini also having departed in the close season.
There have been big changes this close season at Bayern, with Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, second in their all-time scoring list, moving to Barcelona in a deal worth EUR45 million.
Senegalese forward Sadio Mane has been brought in as a replacement from Liverpool, with De Ligt the latest high-profile arrival in Bavaria. — Reuters