Athletic Bilbao v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg
Man Utd have suffered a blow ahead of the summer transfer window (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United have suffered a transfer blow after Bayern Munich announced that defender Jonathan Tah is joining them on a free transfer.
The Red Devils were locked in a race with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona Munich for Tah’s signature in the summer transfer window.
But Tah is now officially heading to Bayern Munich with the Germany international signing a four-year deal after his exit from Bayer Leverkusen.
‘I’m very happy to be at Bayern,’ Tah said. ‘I want to take on responsibility here and work hard every day so that we’re successful as a team and win lots of trophies together.’
The 29-year-old helped Bayer Leverkusen clinch the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal trophy in 2024 under the management of Xabi Alonso.
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Tah was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season in 2024 and 2025 and has also made the Europa League Team of the Season three times.
The centre-back has been at Bayer Leverkusen for the last 10 years -playing a total of 402 games – but he was keen for a new challenge.
St. Pauli vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen - 1.Bundesliga
Jonathan Tah has signed a four-year deal with Bayern Munich (Picture: Getty)
Tah, who has earned 35 caps for Germany to date, will now be playing with the likes of Harry Kane under the management of Vincent Kompany.
Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, are set for a new era after their manager Alonso joined Real Madrid on Sunday.
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has signed a two-year contract to succeed Alonso at the German club.
Aston Villa FC v Manchester United FC - Premier League
Erik ten Hag has signed a two-year contract as Bayer Leverkusen boss (Picture: Getty)
Ten Hag, who will start his new role on July 1, has said Leverkusen are ‘one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe’.
He added: ‘I’ve come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years.
‘It’s an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team.’
The Dutch manager has been out of work since United sacked him in October 2024.
During his time at Old Trafford, Ten Hag helped United win the 2023 Carabao Cup and 2024 FA Cup.
Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said: ‘With Erik ten Hag, we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch.
‘With three league titles and two domestic cup wins, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022.
‘And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times.’
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