Bayern Munich have completed the signing of Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt in a deal worth £68m.
Dutch International, who was Chelsea’s target this summersigned a five-year contract with the German champion.
Bayern will pay an initial £59.5 million (€70 million) plus an additional £8.5 million (€10 million) for add-ons for the 22-year-old.
The former Ajax defender is Bayern’s fourth summer signing after the arrival of Sadio ManeRyan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui.
De Ligt left Juventus after three years with the Italian side, where he made 117 appearances and won both Serie A and Coppa Italia.
The centre-back has two years left on his Juve contract joined from Ajax in the summer of 2019 in a deal worth £67.8m, that makes him the most expensive defender in the history of the Italian top flight.
Juve will replace De Ligt with Bremer
Gleison Bremer is set to join Juventus from city rivals Torino
Juventus consider replacing De Ligt with Torino defender Gleison Bremer after they accepted a £40m (€47m) bid for the Brazilian.
The deal will see Juve upfront £34m (€40m) with £6m (7m) in bonuses.
Negotiations are currently underway between Juventus and Bremer’s representatives over a contract for the 25-year-old, who is also believed to be a target for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham this summer.
Bremer is now set to become the sixth player in the past 42 years to move from Turin to Juventus.
Bayern wanted De Ligt three years ago
Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has revealed the club want to sign De Ligt in 2019 when he joins Juve.
He told the club’s official website: “I am very happy that Matthijs de Ligt will play for FC Bayern in the future.
“We wanted to bring Matthijs to Munich three years ago; we were convinced by his qualities as a defender back then, and we are even more so today. With professionalism, the With his desire and great personality, Matthijs fits our team and our ambitions.
“He will take on an important role at FC Bayern on and off the pitch. He was a leader as a youngster at Ajax, and at 22, he still has the potential to develop. develop at the high level he is at.”
De Ligt said of his move: “I am delighted to be a player of this great club. FC Bayern is the most successful club in Germany, one of the most successful clubs in Europe. and in the world.
“I felt real appreciation from the sports leadership, the coaches and the leadership right from the start, that convinced me.”
Meanwhile, Bayern chairman Herbert Hainer said: “Matthijs de Ligt is our top target. With signings like this, the big goals we set are achievable.
“The future face of our team is increasingly taking shape, and this transfer is an important building block in the common concept that we are gradually adopting. De Ligt should become a mainstay at FC Bayern.”
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