The months-long contract poker is over, the signature is set: Dayot Upamecano will remain with FC Bayern until 30 June 2030. What sounds like planning security at first glance is causing heated discussions behind the scenes and above all among fans and experts. Because this deal was by no means cheap
According to consistent media reports, the 27-year-old Frenchman will receive up to 20 million euros per year in the future. Added to this is hand money in the region of 15 to 20 million euros. If salary and bonus payments are added together over the entire term, the total package is apparently in the region of 100 million euros. For many observers, this is a sum that raises questions – especially in view of the financial discipline that has been repeatedly emphasised recently at Säbener Straße
Max Eberl understands the criticism, but believes it is too short-sighted. In an interview with SPORT1, the sporting director defended the XXL deal in no uncertain terms. „With expiring contracts, it is clear that the player can leave on a free transfer in one or six months‘ time. This automatically puts you in a market situation, in competition with other clubs. That has a huge impact on the whole thing, as the market has changed significantly,“ explained the 52-year-old
Planning security instead of transfer risk
For Eberl, the extension is above all a strategic success. „Dayot has now extended his contract – this means that the squad planning in central defence for the new season is complete for the time being. And it is also a sign of how great FC Bayern’s international appeal is,“ he emphasized. In times when financially strong clubs from the Premier League or Saudi Arabia regularly entice with lucrative offers, it is anything but a matter of course to retain a player of this category in the long term
Eberl made no secret of the fact that the talks were complicated: „The negotiations were definitely not easy, but they rarely are. There are always issues, wishes and ideas on both sides that have to be brought together. It was clear from the start that Dayot wanted to extend his contract – then it was just a matter of finding solutions. We managed to do that.“
The core of his argument is clear: extending costs money – not extending can be even more expensive. „Of course the extensions cost money, but it costs even more if I have to buy players of the quality of Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies or Dayot Upamecano – if you can find them at all,“ said Eberl
With the signing of Upamecano, FC Bayern has at least created calm in one key position. Whether the 100 million package pays off in the long term will be decided on the pitch. In sporting terms, the Frenchman is an undisputed regular under Vincent Kompany – financially, the deal remains a statement