MUNICH: Bayern Munich have ended a long pursuit and finally signed Germany winger Leroy Sane from Manchester City.

The Bavarian powerhouses said on Friday that the 24-year-old former Schalke 04 player has signed a five-year deal through June 2025 and will start preparing for the upcoming season next week.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but British and German media reported last week that Bayern would pay 45 million euros ($50.52 million) plus add-ons for the winger.

“We’re very happy to welcome Leroy Sane to FC Bayern,” CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. “He is an outstanding player who has proven his qualities over the past few years, especially in the national team. Our goal is to gather the best German players at FC Bayern and the signing of Leroy emphasises this goal.”

City were already resigned to losing the pacey forward, who had one year left on his contract with the Premier League side. Coach Pep Guardiola said Sane had rejected two or three offers to extend his contract.

Sane joined City from Schalke 04 in 2016 and had 39 goals and 45 assists in 135 appearances in all competitions. He was an integral part of their league title winning squads in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

He has also made 21 appearances for the German national team, scoring five goals.

“FC Bayern is a very big club and has big goals - these goals suit me as well,” said Sane, who added wants to win the Champions League with the Bundesliga giants. “I’m looking forward to the new challenge and can’t wait to train with the team.”

Sane is Bayern’s third new signing for next season alongside French teenage defender Tanguy Nianzou Kouassi from Paris Saint-Germain and goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel from Schalke, both of which were free transfers.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2020