Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have finalised the signing of central defender Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund, with the centre-back signing a five-year deal.
Hummels, Dortmund’s captain, has been with the club for eight and half years, since arriving from Bayern initially on loan.
The club recently publicly announced that Hummels had asked to leave and although the player responded by criticising BVB’s statement, it has been announced that he has completed his move to Bayern.
A statement from Dortmund confirmed the transfer had been agreed, and Hummels will join the club at the end of the season, a year before his contract was due to expire.
Hummels himself said: “I have not made my decision after eight and a half successful years at BVB easily. I was always proud and still am, to wear the BVB jersey and to be part of this exceptional team.
“Before I return to my hometown in the summer, we have a large, common goal: once again to bring the DFB Cup to Dortmund and with the BVB fans to celebrate a huge festival of football. For that I will give everything just like my teammates.
“I wholeheartedly thank my teammates, all the staff and fans for this long and wonderful time in Black Yellow.”
Meanwhile, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge termed Hummels footballs best centre-half: “Mats [Hummels] is a best central defender in the world, with him we can improve again the quality of our team.”
Hummels is from Munich and still has family based there, but the move remains controversially for the rivalry between the two teams and the fact they play against one another in the upcoming German cup final.
He is the third high-profile player to move from Dortmund to Bayern in recent seasons, following on from Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski.
Hummels has signed a five year deal with the club although the transfer fee has not been disclosed.
A report from Bild suggests the fee Dortmund were demanding was around £28 million (€35m).
COMMENTS