German champions Bayern Munich have officially announced the signing of Jonathan Tah from Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer. The 29-year-old defender has penned a contract that will keep him at the Allianz Arena until 2029.
Tah, who revealed in April that he would be leaving Leverkusen after a decade of service, joins Bayern to strengthen their defensive lineup following a standout season under Xabi Alonso.
I’m very happy to be at Bayern, said Tah. 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.
Max Eberl, Bayern’s board member for sport, expressed delight at securing Tah’s services:
It’s no secret that we’ve had Jonathan on our radar for a long time. We value his quality and his leadership. Despite receiving multiple offers, he chose Bayern, which speaks volumes.
Christoph Freund, the club’s sporting director, added:
Jonathan Tah brings international experience and proven quality. With his technical skills and strong presence, he will integrate quickly and play an important role in our defence.
Tah began his professional career with Hamburg, debuting in the Bundesliga as a 17-year-old during the 2013/14 season. After a loan spell with Fortuna Düsseldorf in the second tier, he joined Leverkusen in 2015, where he quickly became a defensive mainstay.
Over the course of 10 seasons at the BayArena, Tah made 402 competitive appearances and earned his senior debut for the German national team in 2016. He played a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s historic 2023/24 Bundesliga title win, scoring four goals in 31 league appearances.
Now, with a new chapter beginning in Munich, Tah is expected to bring experience, composure, and leadership to a Bayern side aiming to reclaim domestic dominance and compete for European honours.