Colombian attacker Luis Diaz has completed a €70 million move from Premier League champions Liverpool to Bundesliga title holders Bayern Munich.
Diaz, 28, was given permission to miss Liverpool's pre-season defeat against AC Milan in Hong Kong to finalise the switch and has now signed a four-year contract.
Bayern say the deal is worth €70 million up front plus a further €5m in potential add-ons having seen an earlier offer of €67.5m rejected.
Diaz has been pushing for the move and, after two failed attempts to agree an extension to the two years he had remaining on his contract, Liverpool reluctantly accepted his departure was inevitable.
The winger joined Liverpool from Porto in January for an initial €40m, going on to play 148 games for the club, scoring 41 goals and providing the assists for a further 23.
Diaz would help the Reds win the FA Cup and two League Cups before securing the Premier League title last season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.
“I'm very happy, it means a lot to me to be part of FC Bayern – it's one of the biggest clubs in the world,” said Diaz, who will wear the number 14 shirt at the club managed by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.
“I want to help my new team with my style of football and my personality. My goal is to win every possible title – we will work towards that every day as a team.”
In a message posted on Instagram, Diaz said he would “treasure forever” his time at Liverpool. “I arrived with all the dreams in the world, and I am leaving proud of everything we achieved together,” he wrote.
“I have met incredible people, fabulous colleagues, coaches who helped me a lot, and extraordinary fans. Liverpool is, indeed, a special team, and I will keep everyone in my heart. The cycle ends here, and it is so gratifying to look back and realise how happy we were.”
Diaz also paid tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car accident during the summer.” It would have been the perfect goodbye if we hadn’t lost one of ours in such a tragic way,” he added.
“As I said, and I repeat, I carry everyone with me in my heart, but one of them in particular: Diogo. I will never forget him. We will never forget him. Thank you for everything. YNWA.”
Bayern Munich board member Max Eberl, speaking to the club website, said: “Luis “Díaz is an internationally experienced player with tremendous quality, great skills, and great reliability. He will help our team immediately.
“We are delighted to have been able to bring him to FC Bayern. Transfers like this work when everything meshes together. Our fans can look forward to an exceptional player.”
Bayern suffered a major blow at the recent Fifa Club World Cup when attacker Jamal Musiala suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle after a collision with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 22-year-old underwent surgery on his injuries with Bayern saying he would be missing for a “long period”.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have already bolstered their attacking options this summer having signed France Under-21 international Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee that could eventually rise to €95m.
Arne Slot's side have also been heavily linked with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak who is exploring his options for a potential summer move away from Tyneside.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe revealed on Tuesday that the club had yet to receive an offer for Isak who has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for the Magpies, including 27 in all competitions last season.
The 25-year-old did not travel on the club's pre-season tour of Asia, with Newcastle initially blaming a “minor thigh problem” for his absence.
Isak still has three years left on his current deal after moving from Real Sociedad in 2022 in a club-record switch worth around £60m.
Reports suggest it would take an offer of around £150m to have any chance of a deal which means there are only a handful of clubs in the running – Liverpool being one, while Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have also been mentioned, although it is unlikely Isak would be keen for a move to the kingdom.
“He is still our player. He's contracted to us,” Howe insisted at a news conference in Seoul on Tuesday. “We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us.
“My wish is that he stays, but that's not in my full control. We have not received a formal offer for Alex, from any club.”
