Bayern signs Yann Sommer from Gladbach as Neuer replacement | Soccer
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich have signed Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer from Bundesliga rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach to make up for the absence of injured Manuel Neuer.
Sommer, 34, has signed a contract until June 2025, Bayern announced on Thursday. Sommer arrived in Munich on Wednesday for a medical and trained with his new teammates on Thursday before Bayern announced the transfer.
Bayern found themselves on the run after Neuer broke his leg in a skiing accident last month. The 36-year-old German goalkeeper is out for the rest of the season and it has been reported that his career could be in jeopardy depending on the severity of the injury. Neuer said it was a broken lower leg.
“We had to react after losing Manuel. We have big goals this season that we want to achieve, and that’s why we signed Yann Sommer, whom we consider to be one of the best goalkeepers in Europe,” said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić. “Yann is the Swiss national team’s long-time goalkeeper, has experience in the Champions League, is a ball-playing goalkeeper and fits very well into our team with his ambition and character. “
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said last week he wanted a new goalkeeper before the Bundesliga resumes on Friday.
Bayern reportedly paid 8 million euros ($8.6 million) for Gladbach to let go of their No.1 goalkeeper midway through the season. Sommer’s contract with Gladbach was due to expire at the end of the season, when the club then risked losing him without receiving a transfer fee.
Gladbach have signed another Swiss goalkeeper, Jonas Omlin, as a replacement for Sommer from French club Montpellier.
Sommer has been instrumental in helping Gladbach go unbeaten against Bayern in their last four meetings.
Sommer is unlikely to want a back-up role at Bayern when, or if, Neuer returns. Sommer has played 272 Bundesliga games for Gladbach since arriving from Basel in 2014, as well as 21 in the German Cup, 34 in the Champions League and 38 in the Europa League. He won the Swiss championship four times with Basel but remained without a title in Gladbach.
That is set to change at Bundesliga leaders Bayern, who are aiming for a record 11th consecutive title.
“He has what it takes to immediately contribute to our success,” said Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn.
Sommer played 80 times for Switzerland, most recently at the World Cup, where the team’s hopes were ended in the round of 16 after losing to Portugal 6-1.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.