Bayern Munich Sign Renato Sanches and Mats Hummels

Just days after clinching their fourth successive Bundesliga title, Bayern Munich have announced the transfers of youngster Renato Sanches from Benfica and defender Mats Hummels from rivals Dortmund.

The chairman of the Bavarian club, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, said the transfer fee of the Portuguese international Renato Sanches stands at €35 million, but the total fee could rise even more if certain clauses are met throughout his five-year contract. This makes the 18-year-old one of the most expensive teenagers in football history, joining the ranks of Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Lucas Moura and others that clubs shelled out a fortune for.

“FC Bayern has been watching Renato Sanches for a long period, we’re pleased we’ve been able to sign him despite big-name international competition. Renato,” said the chairman. “Renato is dynamic, a good tackler and a technically skilled midfielder who’ll add even more strength to our team.”

The midfielder has a massive challenge on his hands to justify the large transfer fee paid for him, considering he has broken into the first team at the beginning of the 2015-16 season. During last season, he has still occasionally played for Benfica’s B team, but established himself as a huge talent in a short span of time.

Besides adding Renato Sanches to their ranks for next season, Bayern Munich have also signed their former youth product Mats Hummels from fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund. He is the latest Dortmund star to have made the controversial move to Die Roten, after Mario Gotze made the switch in 2013 and Robert Lewandowski the following year.

Bayern’s official website states that the transfer fee is “undisclosed,” however other sources suggest the fee to be in the €35 million region. The defender initially began his career with Bayern Munich in 1995 as a 6-year-old, and went on to represent the club’s B team (Bayern Munich II) and has even made 2 appearances for the senior side, before making the move to the Westfalenstadion in January 2008.

Hummels will join former teammates Lewandowski and Gotze (Image credit: Six Soccer)

Rummenigge warmly welcomed the World Cup winner, describing him as one of the finest defenders in world football. “We are delighted that Mats Hummels has decided in favour of FC Bayern. Mats is one of the best centre-backs in the world. With him we will increase the quality in our team even further,” said the 60-year-old chairman.

The Bavarian giants have made the Bundesliga their training ground, after marking a historic achievement this season by winning four-straight league titles. With Renato Sanches and especially Mats Hummels on their side, it will be much more difficult for Dortmund to pose any sort of threat for domestic glory. After dishing out a fortune on the two new recruits, fans will expect them to win the elusive Champions League – a feat they weren’t able to do under soon-to-be-departed Pep Guardiola.

Bayern’s timing of the transfer announcements are sure to rattle Dortmund, as the two sides are set to face each other in the German Cup final on May 21. The Bavarians have followed the same tactics when they signed Mario Gotze in 2013, announcing his transfer shortly before the Champions League final, which saw them win their fifth European title by defeating Dortmund 2-1.

Guardiola’s men are favourites to win the clash 1.925 (37/40), per online sportsbook BetVictor. Die Borussen have been dealt underdog odds for the match 3.80 (14/5), however considering the strength of both sides a draw 3.70 (27/10) may be on the cards during the 90 minutes of the clash.

(If you’d like to read more about what the online sportsbook has to offer, check out Betting Herald’s BetVictor Sports Review.)