Manchester, United Kingdom: German international captain Bastian Schweinsteiger completed his move to Manchester United on Monday and said they were the only club he would have considered leaving for and ending his 17 years stay with German champions Bayern Munich.
The 30-year-old 2014 World Cup winning midfielder — who was a key figure in the 2013 treble-winning Bayern side that won the Champions League, league and cup crowns — signed a three-year contract.
According to both the German and UK media, United will pay Bayern around £14m (Dh79.9m) for Schweinsteiger, who has been a constant in the success of Bayern and the massive improvement of the German national side’s fortunes over the past decade.
The move reunited the combative midfielder — the first German to play for United — with club manager Louis van Gaal, under whom he played at Bayern from 2009 to 2011.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bayern Munich, it has been an incredible journey and I didn’t take the decision to leave lightly,” said Schweinsteiger, who made more than 500 apparances for Bayern after making his senior debut aged just 18.
“Manchester United is the only club that I would have left Munich for. I feel ready for this new and exciting challenge in what I regard as the most competitive league in the world and I am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal again.
“I will never forget my time at Bayern Munich and I would like to thank everyone at the club and the fans for the great memories.”
The completion of his move to United was not the only big announcement by the club on Monday as they also secured the signature of France international midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin on a four-year contract.
The arrivals of Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin continue United’s bold buying spree in the close season following earlier deals for Dutch international Memphis Depay and Torino and Italy defender Matteo Darmian.
