Bayern Munich have completed the signing of centre-back Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus in a deal believed to be worth €80m (£68m).
The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract at the Allianz Arena until June 2027 and he will wear the number four shirt, previously worn by Niklas Sule who joined Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer.
The likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool were all linked with a move for the Netherlands international, but Bayern have won the race for his signature.
De Ligt has become Julian Nagelsmann's fourth signing of the summer window after the arrivals of Sadio Mane, Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch.
Speaking to the club's official website on his arrival in Baravia, De Ligt said: "I am very happy to become a player of this great club. FC Bayern is the most successful club in Germany, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and the world.
#FCBayern have signed Matthijs #DeLigt from Juventus. 🔴⚪
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) July 19, 2022
🔗 All the information: https://t.co/eHmLbFlXJP#ServusDeLigt #MiaSanMia @mdeligt_04
"From the very beginning, I felt an honest appreciation of the sporting leadership, the coach, and the board, which convinced me. In addition, FC Bayern is an outstandingly managed club with big goals. I am very happy that I am now part of the history of FC Bayern."
Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn added: "Matthijs de Ligt convinces in top international football not only with his playful qualities, but also as a guy who always leads the way in all his teams.
"He learned to take on responsibility at a young age. A strong team not only needs a strong offense, and with this transfer we strengthen our defense at an absolute top level."
Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said: "I am very happy that Matthijs de Ligt will play for FC Bayern in the future. We wanted to bring Matthijs to Munich three years ago. We were convinced of his qualities as a defender at the time, and we are all the more so today.
"With his professionalism, his greed and his wonderful character, Matthijs fits in with our team as well as our ambitions. He will play an important role at FC Bayern on and off the pitch.
"He was already a leader at Ajax Amsterdam as a teenager, and at 22 years old he is still capable of development at the high level at which he operates."
© Reuters
After bursting onto the scene with perennial Eredivisie winners Ajax, De Ligt joined Juventus in the summer of 2019 for around €75m (£63.9m).
The 6ft 2in defender had two years remaining on his Juve contract, but he has decided to leave the club after three years in Turin, where he won the Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.
De Ligt scored eight goals in 117 games for the Italian giants across all competitions and made 42 appearances last season.
The 38-cap Netherlands international could make his competitive debut for Bayern against RB Leipzig in the DFL-Supercup on July 30.
Juventus have allegedly already found a replacement for De Ligt, with journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming that the Old Lady have reached an agreement with Torino to sign Gleison Bremer for €40m (£34m) plus add-ons.
Oliver Thomas
