0
0
FC Bayern Munich has signed Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer from Bundesliga rival Borussia Mönchengladbach to compensate for the absence of injured Manuel Neuer.
FC Bayern Munich announced on Thursday that Sommer, 34, had signed a contract extension until June 2025. Sommer arrived in Munich for a medical examination on Wednesday and trained with his new teammates on Thursday before Bayern announced the transfer.
FC Bayern became forced to seek alternate coverage after Neuer broke his leg in a skiing accident last month. The 36-year-old German goalkeeper will miss the rest of the season, and depending on the severity of the injury, his career may be at risk. Neuer identified the injury as a lower leg fracture.
FC Bayern director’s statement
“We had to react after losing Manuel. We have big goals this season that we want to achieve, which is why we’ve brought in Yann Sommer, who we consider to be one of the best European goalkeepers,” Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidi said. “Yann is a long-time Swiss national team goalkeeper, has Champions League experience, is a ball-playing goalkeeper, and fits in very well with our team because of his ambition and character.”
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann stated last week that he was looking for a new goalkeeper before the Bundesliga season began on Friday.
Bayern Munich reportedly paid Gladbach 8 million euros ($8.6 million) to let its No. 1 goalkeeper leave in the middle of the season. Sommer’s contract with Gladbach was set to expire at the end of the season, at which point the club faced losing him without receiving a transfer fee.
Gladbach signed another Swiss goalkeeper, Jonas Omlin, from French club Montpellier as Sommer’s replacement.
Yann Sommer was instrumental in Gladbach remaining unbeaten against Bayern in their last four meetings. When Neuer returns, Sommer may not even desire a backup position at Bayern.
Sommer has appeared in 272 Bundesliga games since joining Gladbach from Basel in 2014, as well as 21 in the German Cup, 34 in the Champions League, and 38 in the Europa League. He won the Swiss championship four times with Basel but none with Gladbach.
That should change at Bundesliga leader Bayern, which is aiming for an 11th consecutive title.
“He has everything he needs to contribute to our success right away,” Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn said.
Sommer has made 80 appearances for Switzerland, most recently at the World Cup, where the team’s hopes were dashed after a 6-1 defeat to Portugal in the round of 16.
