FC BAYERN SIGNS ISMAEL SAIBARI

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:

FC Bayern has signed Ismael Saibari (25) from PSV Eindhoven. Currently, the offensive player is with Morocco at the World Cup in North America; after the tournament, he will move from the Dutch champions to Munich. Saibari has received a contract until June 30, 2031. He will wear the number 34 in Munich.

Max Eberl, Sports Director of FC Bayern: "We are very pleased to have secured Ismael Saibari, one of the most exciting offensive players of this World Cup, for FC Bayern. Such transfers do not happen on the spur of the moment, but rather through forward-looking work: It was crucial that we positioned ourselves early with him because we knew about Ismael's abilities and were able to show him a concrete perspective with us from the start. Ismael Saibari will add additional quality and unpredictability to our offensive play."

Christoph Freund, Sports Director of FC Bayern: "Ismael Saibari has won the Dutch championship three times with Eindhoven, has Champions League experience, and is now also showing at the World Cup at the highest level how valuable he can be for a team. He is versatile, intense, brave in his play, has exactly the hunger we want to see at FC Bayern, and will do the team good with his goal threat and mentality. Fans come to the stadium for players like him."

Ismael Saibari: "Even as a child, one dreams of signing a contract with a club like FC Bayern – everyone knows that it is one of the biggest clubs in the world. FC Bayern competes for the most important titles like the Champions League every year, and I want to win as many titles as possible here. The style of FC Bayern suits me, I can play my game here and will work hard every day to help the team. Trainer Vincent Kompany played a major role in my decision - I am very much looking forward to the collaboration."

The Terrassa (Spain)-born Saibari began his journey into professional football at the youth academy of RSC Anderlecht. Via the U19 team of KRC Genk, he joined PSV in the summer of 2020, where he celebrated his debut in the Eredivisie after just a few months. With Eindhoven, for which he scored 42 goals and provided 29 assists in 142 league games, he won the Dutch championship and the Super Cup three times each, as well as the cup twice. In this season, he was named "Footballer of the Year" in the Netherlands. Due to his roots, Saibari holds Moroccan citizenship and has therefore been playing for the reigning Africa Cup winner since 2023. In selection matches, he currently has 34 appearances and 12 goals. He was the man for the decisive goals both in the 1:1 draw at the start of the World Cup against Brazil, in the 1:0 victory against Scotland, and in the 4:2 win against Haiti, and in the success in the round of 16 against the Netherlands, he converted the last penalty kick.