Bryan Zaragoza is moving to FC Bayern. Photo: IMAGO/Mutsu Kawamori
FC Bayern has once again responded to the acute personnel concerns – and brought forward the transfer of winger Bryan Zaragoza.
Back in the summer, FC Bayern made themselves a laughing stock when Joao Palhinha’s deal collapsed shortly before the transfer deadline – five months later, the last-minute signing of Bryan Zaragoza worked out without any problems. The Munich team responded to the acute personnel shortage on Thursday by transferring the 22-year-old winger.
The record champions quickly brought Zaragoza’s move from FC Granada forward by half a year. The Munich team will initially loan the Spanish international until the end of the season, followed by the already announced fixed transfer with a contract until the summer of 2029. The transfer fee is now expected to be around 17 million euros plus bonuses, around four million more than originally planned.
“I’m moving to FC Bayern to continue to grow here in one of the biggest clubs in the world,” said Zaragoza after signing the contract: “I’m looking forward to what’s to come. We have high goals.” He had already spoken of a “new challenge in my life”. He is making “a dream” come true.
Freund was pleased that the change worked during the winter break. “In football you always have to be flexible, and so we have reacted again due to the current situation,” said Bayern’s sports director: “An agreement like this involves three parties, and we are happy that Bryan Zaragoza is joining us earlier than actually agreed .”
Bayern are concerned about ongoing personnel concerns
Zaragoza, who could make his debut on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky) in the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, is after Sacha Boey, whom Bayern brought in from Galatasaray Istanbul for 30 million euros (plus five million in bonuses), and Eric Dier ( Tottenham Hotspur/4 million euros) the third winter transfer in Munich.
Coach Thomas Tuchel currently has to do without the injured Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Joshua Kimmich, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry as well as Min-Jae Kim (Asian Cup). Noussair Mazraoui, on the other hand, is available again after Morocco’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations. Tuchel himself has to pass for this at the moment: he can’t lead the training apparently because of a flu-like infection.
The ongoing personnel concerns have been bothering Bayern for a long time, especially as we enter the weeks of truth with the top game in Leverkusen on February 10th and the round of 16 in the Champions League against Lazio Rome (February 14th/March 5th). It was, as veteran Thomas Müller recently said, “how magical that we actually go out with an injured player every game.” Freund also struggled: “It’s bitter that so much comes together.”
That’s why Bayern reacted again shortly before the transfer deadline.