Company gets Tuchel's desired player Palhinha
In the past summer, João Palhinha was a transfer target for FC Bayern. The contact intensified in the winter, but the transfer of the 29-year-old Portuguese national player to FC Bayern Munich finally happened.
The transfer of the Portuguese national player João Palhinha from Fulham to FC Bayern Munchen is perfect. As the German football record champion announced, the defensive midfielder signed a contract until the summer of 2028. The Munich team are reportedly paying Fulham a fixed transfer fee of 46 million Euro, which can increase due to bonus payments. No official statements have been made about this.
"João Palhinha was already a target for FC Bayern last summer - that's right! It was important that the contact never broke off. João wanted to join FC Bayern and we need such players. He is an important building block for our future," said Sporting Director Max Eberl. "Above all, he showed his strengths on a big stage at the EM and brings a lot of experience with him, as he has previously played in an EM and a WM and has played over 300 league matches in the Portuguese and English league. He will give us even more stability in the center."
Last summer, the 29-year-old Palhinha was a target for FC Bayern. The Munich team's former trainer Thomas Tuchel had especially wanted a defensively-oriented six-man midfielder. The transfer of the 30-time national player, who had switched to England in 2022, failed on the last day of the transfer period because Fulham would not release him without a replacement.
"We regretted that," admitted Bayern's club president Herbert Hainer in retrospect. After that, Palhinha extended his contract with the English first division team until the summer of 2028. The new Bayern trainer Vincent Kompany now gets the midfielder that Tuchel had longed for - the "Holding Six".
"This is one of the happiest days of my life. I now play for one of the absolute top clubs in Europe, and for me, that's a dream come true, and I'm very proud," Palhinha explained. "I'm looking forward to the atmosphere and the fans in the Allianz Arena. I want to celebrate successes and titles with FC Bayern - for that, I will give everything."
- Despite missing out on João Palhinha last summer due to Fulham's reluctance to release him without a replacement, FC Bayern Munich was able to secure his services in the winter, with Thomas Tuchel now having the defensive midfielder he had long desired as his "Holding Six" in the Football-Bundesliga.
- Interestingly, João Palhinha was also a transfer target for FC Bayern in the past summer, with their former coach Thomas Tuchel specifically seeking a defensively-oriented six-man midfielder.
- Vincent Kompany, the new Bayern trainer, will be delighted with the arrival of João Palhinha, as the Portuguese national player brings valuable international experience having played in both the EURO and the World Cup, as well as over 300 league matches in the Portuguese and English leagues, and could provide additional stability to Bayern's midfield in the Football-Bundesliga.
