Laimer moves to Bayern Munich

The 26-year-old midfielder comes on a free transfer from RB Leipzig. Laimer would have wanted to move to Munich a year ago, but no agreement was reached on the transfer fee at the time.

“It’s a dream come true for me. FC Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I’ll give everything for the club and the fans,” said Laimer, according to the club’s website. “FC Bayern always have the highest goals – just like me: I’m in the right place here. I’m only there with 100 percent, and I’ll bring that into every training session from day one. I can hardly wait.”

Bayern’s new CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said: “He comes to us as a new, old DFB Cup winner – and together we will hopefully celebrate many more great victories and titles here at Bayern.” In fact, there is a good chance that Laimer will be able to significantly expand his collection of titles with the German series champion. “I think there’s nothing better for a footballer than winning titles, being successful. I think we’re all doing it for that,” emphasized the man from Salzburg. “You train so hard and for so long that you have something shimmering in your hands.”

Laimer was trained in the Red Bull Salzburg youth academy and made his professional debut for the “Bulls” in September 2014. The midfielder celebrated three championship titles and three cup wins with Salzburg before moving to Leipzig in the summer of 2017. Laimer played 190 competitive games (15 goals) for the Saxons and won the DFB Cup twice there (2022 and 2023). In September 2019, Laimer made his debut for the Austrian national team and has played 26 international matches for his home country so far. He scored two goals.

At FC Bayern, after a mixed and turbulent season despite the last-minute win of the championship title, a change is imminent in the summer. Reinforcements are mainly sought for attack and midfield. In the rumor mill, England internationals Declan Rice and Harry Kane, among others, are named as objects of desire.

As a central midfielder who is extremely good at pressing and tackling, Laimer is a type of player who was missing in coach Thomas Tuchel’s team. There, the German internationals Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka were mostly defensively placed, the Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch usually only had the substitute bench. Laimer’s ÖFB colleague Marcel Sabitzer still has a contract until 2025 and will return to Munich after his loan to Manchester United expires. However, there could be transfer opportunities for the Styrian.