The German international Leon Goretzka, currently playing for Schalke 04, will play for Bayern Munich starting next season, as reported by the Bavarian club.
"We are very happy that Goretzka, an international player with great prospects, has decided to join Bayern over European competition, which guarantees that he stays in the Bundesliga," said the president of the Board of Directors, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"Leon Goretzka informed us earlier this week of his desire to leave the club and go to Bayern," explained Schalke's manager, Christian Heidel, regarding their star player, who had been sought after by leading European clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United.
Goretzka, 22, joined Schalke in 2013 and made his debut for the German national team a year later. Various German media outlets, including the popular "Bild," have been reporting the signing for weeks, against which Schalke resisted until the last moment.
The signing adds to the debate about Bayern's supremacy in Germany, a matter that Rummenigge himself admitted a few days ago when he pointed out that it takes away excitement from the Bundesliga and could eventually be a problem for the league's attractiveness.
#FCBayern have signed Germany international Leon #Goretzka.
More to follow. pic.twitter.com/PGeicWxlKM
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) January 19, 2018
#Rusia2018: Rival de la selección peruana confirma su segundo amistoso https://t.co/xol2wTfXsm pic.twitter.com/pAIrBhlt4A
— Diario El Bocón (@elbocononline) January 19, 2018