Robben signs Bayern extension until 2017

Bayern Munich have announced on their official website that Arjen Robben has signed a new contract with the Bavarians until June 2017.

Arjen Robben signs Bayern extension until 2017 

The Netherlands international's previous deal was due to expire in the summer of 2015 and a number of clubs were closely monitoring Robben's situation at the Allianz Arena.

The Dutchman has ended all the speculation by signing a new contract which extends his stay by two more years at the Allianz Arena.

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FC Barcelona are doing everything possible to sign Gundogan

According to the German newspaper 'Bild', Dortmund midfielder İlkay Gündoğan has been approached by the Spanish giants.

FC Barcelona are doing everything possible to sign İlkay Gundogan

FC Barcelona have met with Gündoğan's agents (his father and uncle) several times not and are desperate to bring him to Camp Nou.

The club apparently wants to him to replace Xavi Hernandez, who is said to have agreed terms with the American side New York Red Bulls.

Gündoğan has also been linked with other top clubs, mainly Manchester United and Real Madrid, but the midfielder has made it clear that he will make his decision very wisely. He said: ‘I have not made a final decision yet. BVB are the first team I am talking to.

‘I will soon make a well-thought decision. But I am keeping my options open at this point.

‘Borussia Dortmund have not set me an ultimatum. I am just trying to get healthy again and get back to my best form. That’s the main priority for BVB and for myself.’

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Dortmund set to make fourth summer signing

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed the Champions League runners-up are looking to bring in another player based outside of Germany.

Jurgen Klopp's squad has already been bolstered by attackers Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos this summer.

However, the Ruhr giants are not finished with their recruitment drive and are currently targeting an unnamed foreigner.

"I could tell you a lot, but I'll be careful not to do too much," he told Spox. "He's not coming from the Bundesliga and we are working to complete the transfer."

Dortmund kick off their season with the DFL-Supercup curtain-raiser against Bayern Munich at Signal Iduna Park on July 27.

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De Boer opens door to Eriksen exit

Ajax coach Frank de Boer has admitted he would not prevent Christian Eriksen from leaving the club this summer.

The Danish playmaker, who has just one year left on his contract at the Amsterdam Arena has been heavily linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool amongst others.

And De Boer says he would let the 21-year-old move to Anfield if he chose to do so. 

"It is up to Christian what he wants," the Dutchman told reporters.

"If he feels good going to Liverpool, then it is up to him. I would want nothing more than having him with us for a few more years.

"But we realise the interest in this kind of player is huge. And I can also understand that he wants to make another step in his career. I can't stop him."

Eriksen first moved to Ajax as a teenager back in 2008.

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Official: Bayern Munich sign Thiago Alcantara from FC Barcelona

Thiago Alcantara has left Barcelona to join Bayern Munich for €20 million, potentially rising to €25m. 

Bayern didn't activate the Thiago Alcantara clause. It was a different deal between the two parts: 20m € cash + 5m adds-on.

The deal includes a friendly to the played between the 2 sides.

The 22 year-old Spanish international leaves the Catalan club after two full seasons with the first team, and he will be reunited in Munich with his former Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola.

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Bayer Leverkusen sign free agent Roberto Hilbert from Besiktas

Bayer Leverkusen have signed defender Roberto Hilbert on a free transfer from Besiktas on a contract until 2015.

The former Stuttgart full-back, who has been capped eight times by Germany, has signed a two-year deal with the Champions League participants and will link up with his new team-mates on Friday.

"We've got an experienced, attack-minded right full-back in Roberto Hilbert," said Leverkusen's general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser.

"He has international experience and makes us tactically more flexible, particularly down the right."

Hilbert, 28, won the Bundesliga with Stuttgart in 2007 before moving to Turkey in 2010, winning the Turkish cup at the end of his first season with Besiktas.

He now returns to the Bundesliga keen to perform at the highest level once again.

"I'm delighted that this transfer has worked out," he said on his new club's website. "Bayer Leverkusen are a great club who are giving me the chance to prove myself in the Bundesliga and also in the Champions League."

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Sobiech leaves Dortmund to join HSV

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that young defender Lasse Sobiech has left the club for Hamburg for an undisclosed fee.

HSV were keen to add some more depth to their defence and they see the 22-year-old Sobiech as a valuable addition to their squad. 

The centre-back has signed a contract until the summer of 2016 with Thorsten Fink's outfit, and he admitted HSV's determination to seal the move helped sway his decision.

"I had already agreed terms with HSV a while ago and was determined to move here. The fact that really wanted me was vital in my decision to join,  Sobiech told the official Hamburg website.

"I want to get as much playing time as possible. The most important thing now is to integrate into the team."

Sobiech is a product of the Dortmund youth academy, but he failed to break into the first team with the Champions League finalists.

He spent last season on loan at Greuther Furth after previously wearing the St. Pauli jersey on a temporary basis.

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Former Norwich striker Simeon Jackson joins Eintracht Braunschweig

Former Norwich striker Simeon Jackson has joined newly-promoted Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig on a two-year deal.

The Canada international arrives on a Bosman free transfer following his departure from Carrow Road at the end of last season.

The 26-year-old former Rushden and Gillingham forward moved to Carrow Road in July 2010 but slipped down the pecking order last season and made just 19 appearances.

He was released at the end of his contract this summer and will now take in the next chapter of his career in Germany.

Jackson told his new club's official website: "I am happy to be joining Eintracht Braunschweig and I am clearly looking forward to testing myself in Bundesliga 1."

General manager Marc Arnold added: "We are happy to have signed Simeon Jackson.

"He is the second new signing for our attacking lines, he is a flexible player and good on the counter."

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Eintracht Frankfurt end interest in Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner

Eintracht Frankfurt have ended their interest in Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner after failing to agree personal terms.

Frankfurt chairman Heribert Bruchhagen announced earlier on Thursday that a deal was in doubt.

The plug has now been pulled, despite a fee having been agreed with Arsenal.

Bendtner was open to the idea of moving to Germany, after being deemed surplus to requirements at Emirates Stadium, but his wage demands have proved to be a sticking point.

Frankfurt are now believed to have turned their attention to Sparta Prague's Czech Republic international Vaclav Kadlec.

On the breakdown in discussions with Bendtner, sporting director Bruno Hubner told the club's official website: "We would like to thank Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for the constructive conversations and the high level of cooperation.

"There was interest from all three parts, but in the end it did not match up."

Bendtner is still expected to be on the move this summer, but has one year remaining on his contract at Arsenal if now agreement is reached.

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Ribery: This is my big chance to win Ballon d'Or

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has admitted this year might be his last chance to win the Ballon d'Or as he is unlikely to have a better season than the 2012-13 campaign.

Borussia Dortmund attacker Marco Reus recently said the Frenchman is one of the favourites to win the prestigious individual award and Ribery is hopeful of emerging victorious in the vote for this year's edition.

"The Ballon d'Or? One could say that it's now or never for me. I have had a very good season," Ribery was quoted as saying by Kicker.

"I notice that a lot of people would like to see me win this award."

However, Ribery insists he values Bayern's success over any potential individual trophies.

He added: "What I am most happy about is what I have done last season and what we achieved as a team." 

Ribery, 30, did not make the top 20 in last year's Ballon d'Or which Lionel Messi won for the third consecutive year running since it merged with the World Player of the Year accolade in 2010

Source : Goal

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Guardiola wants Thiago at Bayern

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has admitted he has asked sporting director Matthias Sammer and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to sign Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

The Spain international initially seemed destined to move to Manchester United, but a number of recent reports suggest Bayern are now leading the race to sign the 22-year-old.

Guardiola has now confirmed die Roten are keen to lure the playmaker to the Allianz Arena, although he was unable to give any clarity on the status of the Bavarians' interest.

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Schalke seal Goretzka signing

Leon Goretzka has completed his move from Bochum to Schalke for an undisclosed fee, having already begun training with the Gelsenkirchen side last week. 

The deal had been held up by a number of formalities, but the 18-year-old midfielder has now signed a five-year deal with die Knappen.

Goretzka had also caught the attention of Borussia Dortmund, but he felt that Schalke were the better option for him.

"I was determined to take the next step in my career and I want to continue developing on a high level," he told the club's official website.

"With this objective in mind, I see Schalke as the right address for me. The conditions are perfect here. The standard in training is higher than at Bochum.

"Schalke are a big club that are always in contention at the top and represented in Europe."

Meanwhile, general manager Horst Heldt was unsurprisingly relieved that the deal had finally gone through.

"We're absolutely delighted that in Leon Goretzka another colossal talent has made a conscious decision in favour of Schalke," he enthused.

"Leon is one of the most talented players in Germany and has huge potential. He was on the wanted list of lots of clubs but he sees the biggest opportunity to develop as a player here with us."

Goretzka, who has represented his country at Under-19 level, already featured for his new side in their pre-season friendly against Villingen last Thursday, notching a debut goal with a curling free-kick as Schalke romped to a 5-0 victory.

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Berg completes Panathinaikos move

The Super League side have announced the signing of the striker from Hamburg for an undisclosed fee as they look to build their squad following a dismal 2012-13 campaign

Panathinaikos have announced the signing of Hamburg striker Marcus Berg for an undisclosed fee.


The Sweden international has penned a four-year deal with the Athens outfit, as they look to overhaul their squad following their failure to qualify for European competition last season for the first time in 16 years.

“Panathinaikos Football Club is delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement with the Swedish international football player, Marcus Berg, with the signing of a four-year contract,” a statement read on the club’s official website.

Berg becomes the club’s fourth signing this summer, joining David Mendes da Silva, Emir Bajrami and Georgios Koutroubis as they hope to rebuild after their disappointing season.

The 26-year-old joined Hamburg in 2009, scoring 5 goals in 43 appearances over the course of three seasons with the club, during which he was hindered by lingering injuries and a loss of form. He spent the 2010/11 season on loan with PSV.

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Hannover: Diouf not for sale

Hannover director of sport Dirk Dufner has closed the door firmly on the sale of Mame Diouf, declaring the Senegalese striker priceless.

Interest is growing in the former Manchester United forward after he scored 12 goals for Hannover last season, but Dufner insists he will not be sold at any price.

"We are certainly not going to sell him," he told Kicker magazine. "He is definitely staying with us."

The 25-year-old still has a year left to run on his contract at Hannover and Dufner is keen on extending that deal rather than contemplating losing him on a free transfer next summer.

"Mame is happy in Hannover and we hope to reach an agreement," he said.

Diouf joined Hannover from Manchester in January 2012 and he has scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for them.

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Dortmund confirm Mkhitaryan deal

The 24-year-old Armenia forward will sign a deal in the next few days following successful talks between the BVB and Shakhtar

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed on their official club website that they have agreed a deal to sign highly sought-after Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Mkhitaryan, 24, will complete a switch to Dortmund later this week for a fee reported to be around €25 million and will sign a four-year deal with the Bundesliga runners-up.

The Armenia forward, who also plays in midfield, completed his medical with BVB on Monday and although a contract is yet to be signed, the stock market has been alerted.

A statement on the German club's official website read: "Borussia Dortmund AG and FC Shakhtar Donetsk have agreed on the transfer of the Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan, born on 21 January 1989, to Borussia Dortmund.

"Borussia Dortmund and the player have reached a general agreement about the financial conditions of a contract running until 30 June 2017. Details are yet to be agreed upon."

Mkhitaryan joins Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Saint-Etienne and Werder Bremen, respectively, as Dortmund's latest recruits since losing Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich.

Mkhitaryan, who was also wanted by Liverpool this summer, scored 44 goals in 106 matches for Shakhtar.

Source : Goal

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Mario Gomez has signed for Fiorentina from Bayern Munich

The club have agreed a deal in principle with the Viola and the move will be finalised in the coming days

Bayern Munich have announced an agreement in principle has been reached with Fiorentina over the transfer of Mario Gomez.


The Germany international struggled for regular first-team football at the Allianz Arena last season after losing his starting berth to team-mate Mario Mandzukic.

The move will be officially completed within the next couple of days following talks on Monday between Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Viola president Andrea Della Valle.

 "It was the desire of Mario Gomez to leave Bayern Munich for Florence. We have now complied with his wish," Rummenigge told the club's official website.

"He has made a major contribution to two German championships and two DFB Pokal victories. The highlight was of course the Champions League victory and winning the treble last season.

"I would like to thank him for his Bayern performances. On behalf of the club, I wish him luck and success in Florence!"

Gomez became the most expensive player in Bundesliga history when he signed for Bayern from Stuttgart in 2009 for €30 million. Since then Javi Martinez and Mario Gotze - both Bayern players - have surpassed that milestone.

Gomez played 174 games for Bayern, scoring 113 goals.

The striker becomes Fiorentina's eighth acquisition this summer having landed among others, goalkeeper Gustavo Munua; defender Marcos Alonso; and midfielders Massimo Ambrosini, Juan Cuadardo and Joaquin.

Source : Goal

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Klopp: Lewandowski will join Bayern next year

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes star striker Robert Lewandowski will be a Bayern Munich player the season after next.

Lewandowski's future has been the source of much speculation over the last few months, with a host of Europe's leading clubs coveting the prolific Poland international.

For a while it looked as though Lewandowski, whose contract at the Westfalenstadion runs out in 2014, was destined to join Bayern once the recently-completed campaign was over, but Dortmund have ruled out selling the 24-year-old to any team - domestic or foreign - this summer.

However, Klopp feels it is only a matter of time before Lewandowski, who has also been linked with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City, will be seen in Bayern colours.

"I believe it's a fact that Robert Lewandowski will move to Bayern after the coming season," Klopp told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

"Now it's about this: how do we build in the time until then? That is our concern, and it is our duty to our fans and members to take care that in the coming season we also have a more than competitive team.

"Up until a certain point we were ready to talk, concerning Robert's desire for change. But as nothing happened in this time, we had to say at some point: That is no longer happening.

"And now we want to prove that we can develop, with a quality player like Robert, in the coming year. Our results in the coming season are the most important thing. And with Robert I know that he also sees it like that."

Lewandowski has scored 54 goals in 98 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund and became the first player to score four goals in a semi-final of the Champions League when he single-handedly dismantled Real Madrid.

He was unable to fire Dortmund to victory in the final though as Bayern claimed a 2-1 win at Wembley thanks to a last-gasp Arjen Robben goal.

Source : ESPN

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Aubameyang set to sign for Dortmund

It has been a transfer saga that has rolled on since before Christmas, which has included clubs from all over Europe showing an interest and now left thousands of fans disappointed. It is finally over though. It is understood that Aubameyang has agreed personal terms with German side Borussia Dortmund and according to some has already taken a medical. A fee between the clubs still now needs to be agreed, but it is suggested that talks between the two clubs are close to completion and that Aubameyang will be a Dortmund player “today or tomorrow”.

It is claimed that Aubameyang will sign a 5 year deal with Dortmund until 2018 and the two sides are set to agree a fee of between €13 Million to €15 Million euros. This may confuse many people, but one has to realise that during a transfer saga, such as this, which has gone on for so long, with so many clubs involved, many false rumours will come out which people prefer to believe as it gives them hope that they will sign the player. For example, Everton were said to have joined the race for the player, which we can confirm never happened and as much as we are unable to deny them, bids from Newcastle and Anzhi which were supposedly around the 20 Million euro mark now look less likely to have actually occurred.

Having said that, Aubameyang always said that he wanted Champions League football and the clubs in England which showed an interest in him were simply not able to provide that. If Aubameyang continues his brilliant form from the last two seasons, then he will really be able to make an impact at the German side and maybe move on to greater things from there.

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Liverpool reject £30million bid from Arsenal for wantaway star Luis Suarez.

Liverpool insist that the South American is not for sale, and the Arsenal valuation – believed to be less than the £35 million fee Merseyside club paid for Andy Carroll two years ago – has taken many by surprise.

Liverpool have been braced for such approaches since the end of last season, although it was expected that Real Madrid would lead the chase particularly given the player’s claims of unhappiness in English football.

Arsenal felt suitably encouraged to contact Anfield officials to register their desire to buy the 26-year-old Uruguayan. It has now emerge

d that it went beyond an inquiry, and although neither club is prepared to comment on the discussions or clarify the precise amount offered it is clear it was unacceptable to Liverpool.

Liverpool have never wavered from their position that they would not welcome any bid for Suárez, despite his recent proclamations desiring a move abroad.

[Source : Telegraph]

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Kroos raring to go under Guardiola

Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos says he is raring to go under new coach Pep Guardiola as he returns to full fitness following a knee operation.

Kroos suffered an adductor injury against Juventus in last season's Champions League quarter-final first leg in April which left him sidelined for the rest of the campaign. But now back to full fitness and a new coach at the helm, Kroos says he is enjoying the fresh approach the former Barcelona boss has brought to the club.

"Training with Guardiola is good," Kroos told reporters. "He's always talking to each player, trying to give them a vision of the style of football he wants to play.

"I think that with him, every player will have a different task and will have to adapt their game to what he wants. He just has his own style - his own plan.

"He wants to communicate that to each player individually. For some positions, that works better in a one-on-one situation. It's better to do that than talk in front of the whole team."

Bayern go into next season as the first German side to win the treble and kick off their Bundesliga campaign against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 9.

[Source : Goal

]

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