German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich has completed the signing of Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from Ajax on a five-year deal. According to reports, the German side has paid €18.5m (£16m), which could rise to €24m (£20m), to sign one of Europe’s most coveted young players.
The 20-year-old has helped the Dutch champions to win three league titles and has 10 caps for his country, Netherland. The player speaking about his signing said: “When the offer came from Bayern I didn’t have to think about it for long – I’m coming to win lots of titles.”
The midfielder had been linked with a move to English Premier League Manchester United – where he would have been reunited with his former Ajax boss Eric ten Hag, but says he has a “good feeling” about Bayern.
Gravenberch told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “Manchester United is a very big and beautiful club. But I already had such a good feeling at Bayern and I had given my word.” Bayern Munich chief executive officer Oliver Kahn said Gravenberch is a “highly interesting player who lots of Europe’s top clubs would’ve liked to have signed” while sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic described him as “one of the biggest talents in Europe”.