Berlin - XINHUA
Benfica's youngster Renato Sanches joins Bayern Munich until 2021, the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions announced in an official statement on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old midfielder is one of the "biggest talents in Europe" and will reinforce Bayern for the next season as he put pen to paper on a five-year deal. The German record champions paid a transfer fee of 35 million euros to Benfica for the signing of the Portuguese youngster.
"We have already observed Renato for a long period. We are delighted that he opted to join Bayern despite a number of top clubs who tried to sign him. We are sure that he will strengthen our squad," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "Renato is a dynamic, ball-winning midfielder who is technically gifted."
Sanches played since his youth for Sport Lisboa e Benfica where he made breakthrough into the first team in October 2015 to score two goals in 24 appearences. His performances earned him a call up for Portugal's national team in March 2016, and Bayern's new arrival has capped twice.
Bayern Munich clinched their fourth consecutive, and 25th overall, Bundesliga title last Saturday after beating Ingolstadt 2-1 with a round to play this season.