Another departure is imminent at FC Bayern. A midfielder is set to take on a new challenge.
Felipe Chávez is leaving Munich and moving to 1. FC Magdeburg on loan. The 19-year-old will leave FC Bayern for the current season and join the second-division club 1. FC Magdeburg.
As reported by Sky, the parties involved have now reached a full agreement. According to the report, Chávez will move to Magdeburg on a one-year loan. The second-division club has also secured an option to buy the talented attacking midfielder.
Chávez is expected to arrive at FCM as early as Wednesday to undergo the mandatory medical exam. If everything goes according to plan, the transfer should then be officially announced.
Magdeburg has thus prevailed over several competitors in the race to sign the Peruvian national team player. Most recently, in addition to FCM, Eintracht Braunschweig and 1. FC Heidenheim had also been pursuing Chávez. Furthermore, Estrela Amadora, a club from Portugal, had expressed interest.
Chávez is set to take the next step of his career in Magdeburg
For Chávez and FC Bayern, the search for a new club focused primarily on his athletic prospects. The young player is expected to see regular playing time at a higher level and continue to develop by gaining as much playing experience as possible.
At the German record champions, his opportunities to do so would have been limited at this time. Vincent Kompany has numerous established options, particularly on offense. It would therefore have been difficult for Chávez to consistently earn playing time with the first team.
Yet the 19-year-old had certainly made a case for himself during preseason. In the 4-2 friendly win against 1. FC Heidenheim, he scored a spectacular free-kick goal. Chávez also scored during the Asian tour in the 2-1 win over Jeju SK. In the 15-0 victory over FC Rottach-Egern, he added two goals and three assists.
Chávez already has experience with a loan. In the second half of last season, he played for 1. FC Köln, making seven competitive appearances there. Now, he is set to take the next step with 1. FC Magdeburg.
Of particular interest is the agreed-upon purchase option. This gives Magdeburg the opportunity to sign Chávez permanently after the one-year loan. Whether that actually happens will likely depend largely on how the Bayern talent performs in the 2. Bundesliga.
First, however, he is scheduled to undergo a physical on Wednesday. If Chávez passes it as expected, the next departure from FC Bayern will be officially finalized.