Bayern Munich Sign João Palhinha from Fulham in £47.5m Deal
Bayern Munich have completed the signing of midfielder João Palhinha from Fulham for a reported £47.5m fee, finalizing a deal that collapsed last summer. The Bundesliga giants confirmed the 28-year-old has signed a contract through 2028 after he passed a medical in Germany on Friday.
Palhinha's move ends a year-long pursuit by Bayern, who saw a deadline-day move collapse in 2023 when Fulham failed to secure a replacement. The Portugal international becomes Bayern's first major midfield reinforcement under new manager Vincent Kompany, filling a defensive midfield role the club identified as critical this summer.
The transfer sets a new record sale for Fulham, surpassing the £35m received for Aleksandar Mitrović last year. Palhinha departs after two seasons at Craven Cottage where he established himself as one of the Premier League's most effective ball-winners, leading the division in tackles (147) during his 2022/23 debut campaign.
Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund described the signing as "crucial for implementing our playing philosophy" given Palhinha's positional discipline and duel-winning capabilities. For Fulham, the fee provides significant funds to reinvest after securing Marco Silva's services as manager for another season.
Palhinha is expected to slot immediately into Bayern's starting lineup alongside Joshua Kimmich, providing a more defensive balance to Thomas Tuchel's midfield options. His arrival comes as the German club prepares for Bundesliga competition against Bayer Leverkusen and Champions League commitments this autumn.
