Bayern Munich signed Portugal left back Raphaël Guerreiro on a free transfer Friday from Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund.
Guerreiro joins on a three-year deal after his Dortmund
contract expires at the end of the month. He will likely compete for the
starting left back spot with Alphonso Davies but he can also play on the left
of midfield and was also used as a central midfielder by Dortmund this season
with some success.
“When the call came from FC Bayern, I made my decision
fast,” Guerreiro said in a Bayern statement.
“It’s an honor for me to be able to play for this great
club, and I also regard (Bayern coach) Thomas Tuchel highly from our time
together at Dortmund (in 2016-17). I’m a player who always wants the ball —
it’s about controlling the game and I want to create chances.”
Bayern edged Dortmund for the German title on goal
difference in the closest title race in years. Guerreiro, who spent seven years
at Dortmund, becomes the first player to join Bayern from Dortmund since
defender Mats Hummels in 2016. He moved back to Dortmund three years later.
Guerreiro is Bayern’s second signing of the off-season after
Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer, also on a free transfer.
Guerreiro has made 64 appearances for Portugal, winning the
European Championship in 2016, and played in four of his country’s five games
at last year’s World Cup.
Also Thursday, Wolfsburg signed Czech winger Vaclav Cerny
from FC Twente after he scored 13 goals and had 11 assists in the Dutch league
this season. The 25-year-old Cerny joins on a four-year contract. -AP