Worth every penny: Bayern must extend Dayot Upamecano's contract | OneFootball

FC Bayern celebrates a 2-1 victory in the Champions League top match against Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano played a decisive role in the win over PSG, together with his defensive partner Jonathan Tah. The Frenchman’s performance was a statement—not only to his critics, but also to the club management in Munich.

There is still a big question mark over Dayot Upamecano’s sporting future at FC Bayern. The 27-year-old’s contract runs until the summer of 2026. As things stand, it is completely open whether the central defender will remain with the German record champions beyond the current season. Contract talks between the club and the player have been ongoing for months, but no agreement has been reached so far.

However, after his performance in the Champions League clash against PSG, it should be clear: there is no way around an extension—even if Bayern has to stretch its financial limits to make it happen.

Upamecano submits a statement of intent—all across Europe

Together with defensive colleague Jonathan Tah, Upamecano formed the backbone of Bayern’s defense. The duo cleared almost everything that came towards Manuel Neuer. With 70 percent possession, 25 shots on goal, and playing a half with one man down, conceding a single goal is just cosmetic after the win.

Upamecano could be found everywhere in the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night. The Frenchman won many (important) duels and at times defended across the entire pitch. Upamecano shone with strong tackling, precise positioning, and impressive presence. For the 1-0 by Luis Díaz, it was the Frenchman who, with his aggressive pressing and clever anticipation, initiated the ball recovery.

Even before his brilliant performance in Paris, Upamecano was in high demand internationally. With his strong showing against PSG, the central defender has submitted a statement of intent all across Europe. The list of interested clubs, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, is unlikely to have gotten any shorter after last night.

Reports are even circulating in France that Real and Upamecano’s camp have already reached a basic verbal agreement.

The ball is now in FC Bayern’s court

Photo: IMAGO

It’s no secret that Bayern is eager to extend Upamecano’s expiring contract. President Herbert Hainer publicly called on the Frenchman at the annual general meeting a few days ago to follow the example of his teammates Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, and Joshua Kimmich, all of whom have extended their contracts with the German record champions in recent months.

But this is precisely where the crux of the negotiations with the player’s side lies: The new deals with key players like Davies, Musiala, and Kimmich were expensive and were discussed intensively at Säbener Straße for a long time. According to consistent media reports, Upamecano is looking at these deals as benchmarks, especially financially.

Reportedly, the defender wants to join the ranks of Bayern’s top earners, where Kimmich and others are. In addition, Upamecano’s management is demanding a signing bonus—a so-called signing premium, which is common in the industry for expiring contracts and which Bayern also granted to Alphonso Davies.

After the gala performance against PSG, sporting director Max Eberl was asked about Upamecano’s future and confronted with the fact that his agent’s phone is likely to ring even more often in the coming weeks. The 52-year-old remained unfazed: “It can and should ring. That’s legitimate. I’ve often said that we’re doing our job and want to extend Upa’s contract. We’ve communicated that clearly and are working on it.”

Upamecano himself has repeatedly emphasized in recent months that he feels very comfortable in Munich. According to consistent media reports, he is not aiming for a transfer at the end of the season, despite attractive options. But it’s also clear: with his strong performances this season, the financial calls from abroad are getting louder.

The Bayern bosses now have to decide: How much are they willing to put on the table for one of the (currently) best central defenders in the world? How great is the sporting risk if he leaves in the summer of 2026? One thing is clear: In this form, Upamecano is worth every cent.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.