Former Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has agreed to a 5 year deal with German giants Bayern Munich.
Schalke and Munich came to agreement on Wednesday evening, which will allow Neuer to put pen to paper and become the new number one at Munich.
The 25-year-old made his Bundesliga debut against Bayern in 2006 and since then has gone on to play 156 matches in Germany’s top division, as well as notching up 27 appearances in Europe.
Neuer has had a terrific career so far, especially for a goalkeeper. Out of 156 matches for Schalke in the Bundesliga, he has only conceded 154 goals, which averages at 0.99 golas per game. This is the best record ever for a keeper in the Bundesliga with more than 100 appearances. He has also only conceded 21 goals in 22 Champions League matches. He has also succeeded in keeping 62 clean sheets in the Bundesliga since 2006, more than any other keeper from the same period.
Neuer is not daunted by playing for perhaps the biggest club in Germany either.
“I’m really looking forward to the massive and exciting challenge of playing for Bayern,“ he said.
“Many of my colleagues in the national team will now also be team-mates in Munich, so it won’t be entirely new territory for me and I’m sure I’ll settle in quickly.”
Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is delighted with the deal.
“We at FC Bayern are delighted at signing Manuel Neuer on a long-term contract. He is not only the first-choice goalkeeper for Germany, he is one of the best keepers in the world,” he said.
Neuer will travel to Munich next week to undergo his medical, and then to sign the contract that will officially see him as Munich’s number one until June 30th, 2016.