FC Bayern are working on signing one of South America’s most exciting defensive talents – and will have to be more creative than with almost every transfer before. As transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reports, the Munich club are in advanced talks with Virgilio Olaya of SD Aucas. But legal hurdles make an immediate transfer impossible. Instead, the German record champions are working on a sophisticated plan to secure the Ecuadorian jewel at an early stage
Virgilio Olaya is regarded as one of South America’s biggest centre-back talents. The 17-year-old from SD Aucas has already taken his first steps in professional soccer in Ecuador and is attracting a great deal of international interest. According to Fabrizio Romano, Bayern are even said to have already reached an agreement in principle – but things haven’t quite got that far yet.
As BILD reports, although talks are well advanced, the deal is not yet final. The reason: FIFA regulations only allow international transfers of minors in rare exceptional cases. As Olaya is a non-EU foreigner, none of these exceptions apply. Bayern can therefore only sign the player after his 18th birthday on 3 February 2026.
Pro team? Still too early.
But even if the transfer is completed next summer, the next hurdle remains: According to the regulations, non-EU players like Olaya may not be used in the second team or in the youth sector – but only in the professional team.
Uli Hoeneß recently criticized this regulation: „One major problem is that we can’t let an 18-year-old South American play in our second team because the laws don’t allow it. That’s ridiculous.“
The fact is: immediate integration into Vincent Kompany’s professional team would be neither sensible nor realistic for an 18-year-old rough diamond from Ecuador.
Bayern must get creative
This is precisely why FC Bayern is working on an alternative approach. According to information from BILD, Olaya is to be loaned out immediately after signing. Clubs from the „Red & Gold“ network – the joint venture between Bayern and Los Angeles FC – are conceivable.
Grasshoppers Zurich, where Bayern talents Jonathan Asp Jensen and Lovro Zvonarek are already gaining match practice, are particularly hotly tipped. Zurich offers professional structures, regular playing time and a league that can prepare young players for the top level.
It remains to be seen whether Olaya will move directly to Zurich or to another partner club – but the plan behind it is clear: Bayern wants to secure the talent before European competition becomes active and at the same time offer him an optimal development station.
A clever but complex Bayern plan
For Olaya, the move would be understandable: first switch, then mature in peace before making the big leap to Munich. For Bayern, it would be an early investment in an exceptional talent – despite a set of rules that makes transfers of this kind almost impossible.
However, numerous details still need to be clarified before the deal can be finalized, but the record champions have proven that they can find creative solutions when they are convinced by a player.