OFFICIAL: Bayern sign Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus on a 5-year deal until 2027
De Ligt: "I'm very happy to be a player at this great club. FC Bayern is the most successful club in Germany, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and also in the world."
De Ligt: "Right from the start I felt honest appreciation of the sporting management, the coach, and the board, that convinced me. In addition, FC Bayern is an excellently managed club with big goals. I'm very happy to be part of Bayern Munich's history."
Bayern Munich have confirmed what was an open secret; the signing of Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt for a fee that, according to German media, is estimated to be around 80 million euros: 70 million euros fixed plus 10 million euros in variables.
The former Juventus centre-back will immediately join the Munich team's training camp in the United States, where he will take part in a number of friendly matches.
De Ligt has signed for five seasons and will strengthen the backline of a team that has already added Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax).
The Dutchman is the cherry on top of a spectacular squad in which the winners of the last nine Bundesliga titles are aiming to win everything, in Germany and in Europe.
"Matthijs de Ligt has impressed at the highest international level, not just with his technical qualities but also as a character who leads in all his teams," Bayern CEO Oliver Khan said.
"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."
De Ligt is one of the biggest transfers so far this summer, only surpassed by the 80m euro fixed price of Tchouameni (Real Madrid); Darwin Nunez (Liverpool), who cost 75m euros fixed plus 25 in variables; and above other bigger names such as Haaland (60m euros to Manchester City) and Lewandowski (45 million euros to Barcelona).
If the price tag for De Ligt is confirmed, there will only be three centre-backs more expensive than him in history: Harry Maguire (Man Utd, 87 million euros); Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, 84.6 million euros); and Lucas Hernandez (Bayern, 80 million euros).