4th January, 2014
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski will leave Borussia Dortmund for German rivals Bayern Munich in the summer on a five-year deal, the European champions confirmed on Saturday.
The 25-year-old has been at Dortmund since the 2010-11 season, but his current contract was due to end in June.
“We’re delighted to have sealed this transfer and that both parties have signed a contract until 2019,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, describing Lewandowski as “one of the top strikers in the world.”
“He’s going to strengthen Bayern,” added Rummenigge, who was present for the signature along with sporting director Matthias Sammer after Lewandowski underwent a medical.
Lewandowski had informed Dortmund bosses last summer that he wanted to leave, but the club refused having already been hit by the departure of German midfielder Mario Goetze for the Bavarian giants.
But he had dropped a heavy hint that he planned to join Bayern Munich two weeks ago after responding in Bavarian to a question about his future.
“Schaun mer mal (‘let’s wait and see’ in Bavarian),” Lewandowski told German daily Bild when asked about a possible move to Munich.
Since his arrival in 2010 from Lech Poznan, Lewandowski had helped Dortmund win the league title in 2011 and 2012.
His 11 goals this season have helped his team to fourth place in the Bundesliga, but they are 12 points behind runaway leaders Bayern.
The Pole was also a key player in the Dortmund’s European campaign last season, scoring four goals against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals before falling to Bayern in the final in Wembley.