Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of Harry Kane from Tottenham in a transfer worth more than €100million (£86.4m, $110m).
The England captain completed a medical on Friday and has signed a four-year contract with the Bundesliga champions.
Kane will wear the No 9 shirt for Thomas Tuchel’s side and could make his debut later on Saturday against RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup.
Kane said: “I’m very happy to be a part of FC Bayern now. Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and I’ve always said that I want to compete and prove myself at the highest level during my career.
“This club is defined by its winning mentality — it feels very good to be here.”
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FC Bayern president Herbert Hainer believes Kane will not only benefit Bayern but the Bundesliga as a whole.
“We’re very happy about this top-quality new arrival. The transfer required tenacity, bite and perseverance — my compliments to all those involved in these negotiations at FC Bayern, led by our CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.
“Harry Kane will not only strengthen FC Bayern, but also be a real asset to the entire Bundesliga.”
FC Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen added: “It’s been a long process, but now we’re all the happier that Harry Kane will be wearing the Bayern Munich shirt with immediate effect.
“Harry Kane was our absolute dream player right from the start. He is a perfect fit for us and the club’s DNA in terms of both football and character.
“World-class centre forwards have always been an important factor when FC Bayern has celebrated its greatest triumphs, and we’re convinced that Harry Kane will continue this success story. Our fans can look forward to one of the best goalscorers of our time.”
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Kane had earlier confirmed his exit from Tottenham in an emotional message to supporters.
“I wanted to be the first to tell you Tottenham fans that I will be leaving the club today,” he said.
“Obviously a lot of emotions going through me right now. Sad to be leaving the club I’ve spent nearly 20 years of my life at from an 11-year-old boy to a 30-year-old man now.
“There’s been so many great moments and special memories. Memories that I will cherish forever. This is a thank you to all of my team-mates over the years, all my coaches, all the managers, every single staff member from the kit men to the chefs, everyone involved.
“Obviously I’ve built special relationships with a lot of people. Most importantly thank you to you the Tottenham fans. From the moment I played I have been one of your own and I have given everything I possibly could to make you proud.”
The Athletic reported on Friday morning that Kane had been given permission to travel to Munich after Tottenham finally accepted an offer from the German club.
🎬 Action! FC Bayern proudly presents 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐄. #ServusHarry pic.twitter.com/93IWBU7TOx
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) August 12, 2023
Kane had wanted his future settled before the start of Tottenham’s Premier League season on Sunday, which sees them take on Brentford.
He had been leaning towards staying at his boyhood club as protracted negotiations continued, but after seeing three bids rejected, Bayern finally made a breakthrough on Wednesday.
The striker was into the final 12 months of his contract though Tottenham wanted to tie him to fresh terms, a lack of progress on that front prompted them to make the difficult decision to sell their talisman rather than lose him for free next summer.
Kane departs as Tottenham’s all-time top scorer having scored 280 goals in 435 appearances.
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Shearer backs Kane move
The Athletic columnist and Premier League all-time leading goalscorer Alan Shearer believes Kane has made the right decision in seeking a new challenge.
Kane departs the English top flight on 213 Premier League goals — behind Shearer’s 260 mark — but the former Newcastle United and Blackburn striker thinks the current England captain has ample time to beat his record.
“I do think he’s making the right decision,” Shearer said in a Q&A. “Why? He had one of his best seasons ever for Spurs last time and they weren’t in contention.
“He’s now going to a giant of a football club who will be pushing to win the Champions League. They’re a massive, massive club. And if he does two or three good years over there, he can still come back and have a go at my record.
“I think it’s fascinating he’s taken this step. Speaking personally, I had to win trophies and winning at Blackburn scratched an itch for me. I then went on to take the Premier League record, but I can’t say how I would have felt if hadn’t won that competition first.
“He’s got time to do it (break the record); he’s got a decent fitness record and players tend to play longer these days, too.”
‘Kane coup huge for Bayern’
The Athletic’s German football correspondent Raphael Honigstein
“It’s huge. They needed a No 9. They were in market for Kane last year but didn’t really get anywhere.
“It was seen as hugely ambitious to come back for him but they’ve pulled it off. They have the money and Kane was perhaps more amenable to the move than some reports in the UK media suggested, but it’s still a huge achievement to sign the Premier League’s potential best ever goalscorer, England’s top scorer, at a time when the Premier League is the most dominant league in the world.
“Bayern suffered last year without a centre-forward — that would have focused their minds on signing a No 9. It wasn’t just signing him for the Champions League knockout stages, but the Champions League will be the main story and there’s an anticipation that Bayern will go from being in the mix to a more serious contender in the way they were in the Pep Guardiola years. They have given themselves a much better chance now.”
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The Athletic’s Tottenham correspondent Tim Spiers
“I’m not sure the impact of this can be underestimated, certainly from the fans’ point of view. He’s arguably their greatest ever player.
“He’s their leader, their talisman, their goalscorer, their creator-in-chief, their first line of defence, their heartbeat.
“Last season was the most miserable, soulless season that Spurs have endured in many years, yet Kane still scored 30 goals in an awful team. He just means everything to the people of Spurs.
“The club have made smart additions this summer but how do you replace those goals? They do have Brazil’s No 9 as back-up; Richarlison has never got near Kane’s level but there’s a school of thought that he suits Postecoglou’s style pretty well.
“The issue they will have is that everyone knows their budgets and now there be a desperate scramble; the last few weeks of the window is the worst time to try and buy players.
“Spurs fans will remember that when they sold Gareth Bale, they bought quite a few duds and wasted that money. The hope is that Spurs have had all summer and will have plans in place.”
(Photo: Jacques Feeney/Offside via Getty Images)
