Matthijs de Ligt: Bayern Munich sign Dutch defender for £68m from Juventus | Football News

Bayern Munich have completed the signing of Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt in a deal worth £68m.

The Netherlands international, who had been a Chelsea target this summer, has signed a five-year deal with the German champions.

Bayern will pay an initial £59.5m (€70m) plus a further £8.5m (€10m) in add-ons for the 22-year-old.

The former Ajax defender is Bayern’s fourth summer signing after the arrivals of Sadio Mane, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui.

De Ligt leaves Juventus after three years at the Italian side, where he made 117 appearances and won both Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

The centre-back had two years remaining on his Juve contract having joined from Ajax in the summer of 2019 in a deal worth £67.8m, that made him the most expensive defender in Italian top-flight history.

Juve set to replace De Ligt with Bremer

Juventus look set to replace De Ligt with Torino defender Gleison Bremer after they had a £40m (€47m) bid accepted by their city rivals for the Brazilian.

The deal will see Juve pay £34m (€40m) up front with £6m (€7m) in bonuses.

Talks are now underway between Juventus and Bremer’s representatives over a contract for the 25-year-old, who had also reportedly been a target for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham this summer.

Bremer is now set to become only the sixth player in the last 42 years to move from Torino to Juventus.

Bayern wanted De Ligt three years ago

Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has revealed the club wanted to sign De Ligt in 2019 when he joined Juve.

He told the club’s official website: « I’m very happy that Matthijs de Ligt will be playing for FC Bayern in the future.

« We wanted to bring Matthijs to Munich three years ago; we were already convinced by his qualities as a defender back then, and today we’re even more so. With his professionalism, his hunger and his wonderful character, Matthijs fits in with our team and our ambitions.

« He’ll take on an important role at FC Bayern on and off the pitch. He was already a leader as a youngster at Ajax, and at 22 he’s still capable of developing at the high level he’s at. »

De Ligt said of his move: « I’m very happy to become a player for this great club. FC Bayern are the most successful club in Germany, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and in the world.

« I felt the genuine appreciation from the sporting management, the coach and the board right from the start, which convinced me. »

Meanwhile, Bayern president Herbert Hainer said: « Matthijs de Ligt was a top target for us. With signings like this, the big aims that we have are achievable.

« The future face of our team is increasingly taking shape, and this transfer is an important building block in the overall concept that we’re gradually putting into place. De Ligt should become a mainstay at FC Bayern. »

Follow the summer transfer window with Sky Sports

Who will be on the move this summer before the transfer window closes at 11pm on September 1?

Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.