Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Red Bull Arena on January 30, 2021 in Leipzig, Germany.
Bayern Munich have confirmed that Dayot Upamecano will be joining them from RB Leipzig in the summer, ending the interest of Chelsea and Liverpool in the centre-back.
The 22-year-old has been linked with a string of Europe’s biggest clubs over the last 18 months, with Manchester United also showing an interest in the commanding defender.
However, it is Bayern that have won the race for the France international, with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic confirming that the Bavarians have signed Upamecano to a five-year contract.
“We have had positive, deep, and professional talks with Dayot and his agent Volker Struth over many months,’ Salihamidzic told Bild.
“We knew that there would be a lot of competition. Upamecano is a young player already with highly developed talents.
“We showed him our vision of his career at FC Bayern, at the end of a long process the player, his family, and the directors were convinced that Bayern would be the right destination.
“Upamecano will play for FC Bayern for the next five years.”
Upamecano was identified as the ideal replacement for David Alaba who is set to leave Bayern at the end of the season, with Real Madrid looking like his most likely destination.
The young defender has already racked up over 100 appearances in the Bundesliga for Leipzig and won three caps for his country.
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had been open about his side’s pursuit of the defender as they look to replace the out-going Alaba, also mentioning that the Reds and the Blues are keen.
“In addition to Bayern Munich, there are at least two quite attractive clubs interested [in signing Upamecano],” he said. ‘The fact is that the player [Upamecano] is interesting, and the fact is that we will almost certainly lose David Alaba at his position. I can’t say if there will be other departures at the position.
“You have to let things grow in peace. We have a good relationship with Mr Struth [Volker Struth, Upamecano’s agent].
“The player will know what he wants at some point. We have a good relationship with RB Leipzig as well. I’ve had a conversation with Oliver Mintzlaff [RB Leipzig CEO].
“When things become concrete, we’ll talk again. The fact that Chelsea and Liverpool are also interested in him proves that he has very good qualities. He can replace David Alaba.”
