No panic transfers: Why Bayern did everything right in winter | OneFootball

FC Bayern deliberately avoided big names and quick solutions in the winter transfer window – a decision that has proved to be a wise move in hindsight

The winter transfer window in the Bundesliga closed on Monday evening at 8 p.m. While numerous clubs have been frantically active on the market in recent weeks, things have remained remarkably quiet at Säbener Straße. This restraint came as no surprise. Back in December, sporting director Max Eberl had already made it clear that no external reinforcements were planned for the winter and that the focus was clearly on the existing squad

Instead of short-term action, the record champions focused on planning, stability and patience, even though there were several options in the winter. Players such as Marc Guehi, Jeremy Jacquet and Souza all changed clubs in January. Bayern were said to be interested in all three players. However, Eberl and Co. were not prepared to make such costly „panic transfers“ as Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham

Movement without big names

January was not without activity, however. Behind the scenes, Eberl and sporting director Christoph Freund worked intensively on structural issues. Daniel Peretz and Bryan Zaragoza broke off their loans early, only to be loaned out again – with the clear aim of gaining more match practice. Peretz moved from HSV to FC Southampton, while Zaragoza is now continuing his development at AS Roma

There was also movement on campus, with Magnus Dalpiaz joining AC Milan on loan and Adin Licina making the move to Juventus Turin. Javier Fernández extended his contract until 2028 and is gaining important minutes in the Bundesliga 2 at 1. FC Nürnberg. Felipe Chávez, on the other hand, moved to 1. FC Köln on loan on deadline day. These were not headline-grabbing transfers, but consistent steps in terms of player development

Bayern’s new winter signings come from their own squad

photo: IMAGO

FC Bayern deliberately refrained from making any real external signings. With the exception of young Baro Sapoko Ndiaye, who was loaned out for six months by a partner club, the squad remained unchanged. The reason is obvious: there was simply no acute need for action in sporting terms

Instead, the record champions benefited from several „internal additions“, with Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito returning from long-term injuries and providing noticeably more quality and depth in the squad. The impending contract extension of Dayot Upamecano is also seen internally as such an internal transfer. The Frenchman had been stalling Bayern for months, but decided to stay on deadline day of all days – an important signal for sporting stability

Summer transfers confirm the course

Another factor: the summer transfers have hit the ground running. Jonathan Tah and Luis Díaz are immediate top performers, Tom Bischof is regarded as one of the most exciting all-round talents in the country. The squad, which was often denied the necessary breadth before the start of the season, has so far performed well across several competitions

This experience reinforces Bayern’s caution. Winter transfers in particular have often proved to be costly bad investments in the past. The most prominent example remains Sacha Boey, who arrived two years ago for around 30 million euros but was never able to make a lasting impression. There were also offers for him in the winter, but a transfer never materialised. Bayern will make another attempt in the summer

The situation was similar with Leon Goretzka. Atlético Madrid were interested, FC Bayern were willing to talk – but the player decided against a winter departure. Despite potential income, the record champions remained calm. Goretzka will leave the club on a free transfer in the summer after eight years. In sporting terms, they will compensate for this. Economically, they will lose nothing, as the DFB star also came to Munich from Gelsenkirchen on a free transfer in 2018 and spent his best years at the record champions

FC Bayern’s quiet winter is therefore not a sign of stagnation, but rather an expression of a mature transfer strategy. Less risk, more confidence in their own structure – and so far this approach is paying off. In the summer, they would then like to calmly close the open squad construction sites.