Actually, there are many signs pointing to Manuel Neuer ending his career in the summer of 2027. But the Bayern captain is surprisingly leaving the door open.
Will the upcoming season really be Manuel Neuer’s last with FC Bayern? Until now, there have been many indications that the longtime captain will end his extraordinary career in the summer of 2027. However, it doesn’t seem to be a done deal just yet.
In an interview with Sky, Neuer was asked about his future and a possible retirement after the upcoming season. The 40-year-old deliberately avoided making a definitive statement.
“Nothing is 100 percent certain. It’s not set in stone, but the likelihood is high,” Neuer explained.
With this, the 2014 World Cup champion makes it clear that retiring after the 2026–27 season is currently the most likely scenario. At the same time, he expressly does not rule out another season with the German record champions.
Neuer wants to listen to his body
Sky reporter Kerry Hau, who conducted the interview with Neuer, also sees a small possibility of another season with Bayern: “It’s probably his last season. He hinted at that again,” he said. “Still, he didn’t want to set it in stone 100 percent just yet, because he’s also someone who likes to listen to his body. Maybe in the spring, his body will tell him, ‘Hey, I’m actually up for another year.’ And then he’ll keep going after all. But there’s a lot to suggest that this is Manuel Neuer’s final season.”
A decision will likely depend above all on how Neuer feels physically in the coming months. If the goalkeeper remains injury-free and continues to feel he can help FC Bayern at the highest level, the question of another contract extension might very well come up again.
Neuer currently has a contract through the summer of 2027. Despite his advanced age for a soccer player , he’s heading into the new season as Coach Vincent Kompany’s number one. At the same time, the Munich club is already preparing his potential successor, Jonas Urbig, for the future.
According to Sport BILD, the 22-year-old is set to receive significantly more playing time in the coming season. Bayern could also field Urbig in key matches to gradually prepare him for a potential role as the permanent number one.
As a result, it had recently been assumed that the transition in Bayern’s goal could finally be completed in the summer of 2027. Urbig himself, however, did not want to address the possibility of Neuer’s retirement during the team’s trip to Asia.
“I didn’t even know he said that. This is the first time I’ve heard it,” the youngster explained when asked about his teammate’s retirement plans at the time. Instead, he said he is focusing on working together with the rest of the goalkeeping staff.
Neuer himself also seems to be taking his time before making a final decision. The only thing that’s clear is that, according to his own statements, the likelihood of him ending his career next summer is high. However, there’s no guarantee of that.
Should Neuer find over the course of the season that his body is still holding up and his motivation remains unchanged, the situation could change once again. So the possibility of another season for the Bayern captain is, at least, not completely off the table.