By extending Harry Kane ’s contract through 2029, FC Bayern has sent a clear message. The newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner will remain with the German record champions for the long term and is expected to lead the Munich team to more titles in the coming years. But not all experts are convinced by the decision. Dietmar Hamann, in particular, has expressed significant doubts.
On the Sky program “Triple – der Hagedorn-Fußballtalk,” the former Bayern pro questioned the contract extension with the now 33-year-old striker. In his view, the Munich club is taking a considerable financial and athletic risk with the new contract. Above all, Kane’s age and the question of his long-term performance are causing Hamann concern.
The Englishman, however, received support from Oliver Kahn. The former Bayern CEO disagreed with his former teammate and defended the Munich club’s decision. For Kahn, given Kane’s importance to the team, the contract extension was virtually unavoidable.
Hamann sees significant risk in Kane’s contract extension
“Bayern had almost no choice but to extend his contract. He wanted to stay and is now winning the Ballon d’Or. It would have sent a message if he had won this award and they had let him go anyway,” Hamann explained on Sky.
Nevertheless, the 53-year-old is critical of the long-term commitment to the English national team player. “Still, I think the contract extension carries a significant risk,” the former midfielder emphasized.
Hamann has particular doubts about the player’s athletic prospects over the coming years. After all, Kane will already be 35 years old when his new contract expires.
“I don’t think there were any major suitors from England. That’s probably why it was a decision they had no choice but to make,” the Sky expert explained.
Hamann also does not view the Englishman’s exceptional goal-scoring rate as a guarantee for the future.
“It remains to be seen whether he’ll continue to score so many goals over the next three years. It’s a certain risk,” warned the former Bayern pro.
In fact, Munich has once again signed one of the most lucrative contracts in European soccer with Kane. According to Sky reports, the forward could earn more than 30 million euros gross per year in the future, including bonus payments.
Kahn strongly disagrees with Hamann
Oliver Kahn, however, cannot understand the criticism from his former teammate.
The former Bayern boss pointed above all to the public impact that a departure by the reigning Ballon d’Or winner would have had. “You have to consider how much we would have talked about it if, as a Ballon d’Or winner, he hadn’t extended his contract with FC Bayern. Just imagine what would have happened then,” Kahn explained.
In his view, the club’s leadership made the right decision by extending his contract. “If you put yourself in the shoes of the club’s leadership, it’s very easy to understand why it was so incredibly important for Harry Kane to extend this contract,” emphasized the 57-year-old.
The former national team goalkeeper also does not share the concerns regarding Kane’s age. “Players these days can play at a high level for much longer than was the case in the past. He’ll be very important for Bayern,” Kahn clarified.
Whether the contract extension will ultimately lead to the hoped-for international success, however, remains to be seen. “You can never know if it will be enough to win the Champions League,” added the former Bayern captain.
In any case, it’s clear to the Munich club that Kane will continue to play a central role in their sporting plans. Since joining in 2023, the Englishman has regularly demonstrated his exceptional talent and was most recently awarded the Ballon d’Or.
By extending his contract through 2029, Bayern is banking on their striker continuing to perform at a world-class level in the years to come. Whether the investment pays off in the long run will be determined above all on the field.