Along with all the other top European leagues, the Bundesliga summer transfer window slammed shut on Friday night and the long running saga of Jonathan Tah’s potential move to Bayern Munich eventually fizzled out.
The 28-year-old Germany international has been a fixture at Bayer Leverkusen ever since he arrived at the club in 2015, having learned his trade with the Hamburg youth set-up. The 6-foot-5 centre back was a key figure in Die Werkself’s amazing title run last term and he was included in the 2023/24 Bundesliga Team of the Season along with five of his teammates.
Leverkusen will be keen to prove they are not a one-hit wonder after storming to a first league title and a first trophy in 30 years, and fans at the club will be delighted their defensive colossus is staying for at least another season.
The SBOTOP Bundesliga 2024 betting odds predict a return of the title to Munich but this latest piece of news may tip the scales slightly towards Leverkusen.
FC Bayern boss Vincent Kompany was a towering centre back in his playing career with Manchester City and Belgium, and he certainly liked the look of Tah, though Bayer head coach Xabi Alonso—a midfielder in his day—can also spot a player and he will welcome his defender back into the fold with open arms.
The Bayer star has been a long term target for Bayern. But after a €25 million offer was rejected on Thursday, the Bavarians decided to throw in the towel.
Relations between the two title rivals have become a little frosty during this saga and Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro was less than diplomatic in his statements.
“I think nothing of Max Eberl (Bayern board member), absolutely nothing; and I wouldn’t negotiate with him either.”
The player’s agent later said the talks had been poisoned in recent days, and when the two teams meet on the pitch, there will surely be some added bite.
Meanwhile, Tah has released a reassuring message to the Leverkusen fans.
“Lately there’s been a lot of speculation about me and my future. It is true that I checked out other options but now it is clear that I will complete the ten years at Bayer 04! You can be sure I’m very much looking forward to all the challenges with our team. I am a firm believer that we have a really strong squad again and can provide memories in all competitions,” he said.
Those words will be music to Die Werkself supporters’ ears—and now they can finally move on.
Wolfsburg go Greek with signing number six
In other Bundesliga 2024 news, Wolfsburg have picked up a sixth summer signing with the capture of young Greece star Konstantinos Koulierakis. The 20-year-old centre back has starred for PAOK Thessaloniki in the Greek League and the UEFA Europa League, and has has already made six appearances for his national side.
The €12 million fee is the second highest amount the Wolves have paid this summer, shelling out €13 million for 25-year-old goalkeeper Kamil Grabara from Danish Superleague side FC Copenhagen.
Koulierakis is a ball playing centre-back, strong in the air and also a goal threat, with nine goals in 72 competitive appearances for PAOK.
He’ll be a welcome addition to the Wolfsburg team, which pushed Bayern Munich all the way last weekend and were unlucky to lose 3-2 in the end; and Koulierakis is a player well worth watching in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere RB Leipzig have completed the signing of 24-year-old Dutch defender Lutsharel Geertruida in for €18 million Euros from Eredivisie giants Feyenoord.
Leipzig have been tracking the player for some time and with 144 appearances for his club—and international recognition with the Netherlands—he is a quality addition for the title chasers.
The deal went down to the wire on Friday evening but now, with a five-year deal signed, Geertruida can show the Leipzig fans what he’s got, and he’ll be lining up alongside his Oranje teammate Xavi Simons.
In another last minute deal, Eintracht Frankfurt completed the signing of Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud on a two-year deal. The 28-year-old previously had stints with Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach so he knows the Bundesliga well. But the Syrian-born Germany international struggled to settle with the Seagulls, making just nine appearances last season and he will be hopeful of rediscovering the form which earned him over 100 appearances for BVB and over 60 for the Foals.
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