Thomas Müller to Depart Bayern Munich After 25 Years as Club Confirms No New Contract Offer

Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller has confirmed on Saturday that the club will not extend his contract, bringing an end to his remarkable 25-year association with the Bavarian giants at the close of the current season.

The 35-year-old midfielder, whose contract was set to expire this summer, shared the news via a social media post, expressing that while the decision was made by the club, it was “not what I would have wished.”

Müller expressed dissatisfaction with the way the contract discussions unfolded in the public eye but acknowledged the “appreciation from everyone involved” after such a long tenure at Bayern.

“The special connection to the club and our amazing fans will always stay with me,” Müller said, reflecting on his time with the team.

Having come through Bayern’s youth academy, Müller boasts two UEFA Champions League titles and 12 Bundesliga championships among his numerous achievements.

His immediate focus is on securing another Bundesliga title for Bayern and making it to the Champions League final, which will be hosted at Bayern’s Allianz Arena later this season.

Later that day, Bayern Munich issued a statement confirming Müller would be honored with a testimonial match and participate in the upcoming Club World Cup in July.

“Thomas Müller’s career is the epitome of a Bavarian fairytale,” said club president Herbert Hainer.

Born in Weilheim, a town in Bavaria, Müller joined Bayern at the age of 10 and made his first-team debut under coach Jürgen Klinsmann in 2008, playing against a Hamburg side that featured current Bayern boss Vincent Kompany.

A one-club man, Müller has made 743 appearances for Bayern across all competitions, the most in the club’s history, and has contributed 247 goals and 273 assists during that time.

In recent years, Müller has seen more time on the bench, sparking rumors of his departure, with speculation increasing that he might move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States for the latter stage of his career.

Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, a former Bayern teammate now at the New York Red Bulls, welcomed the possibility of Müller joining him in MLS, saying in March, “Thomas is a Bayern legend, so I’d be thrilled for him if he continues here. If he decides to take the step to the US, we’ll see.”

Müller has also been tipped for an administrative role at Bayern once his playing days conclude.

A key figure in Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory, Müller retired from international duty after Euro 2024. He made 131 appearances for his country, scoring 45 goals over 14 years.

Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, stated the decision not to extend Müller’s contract was “anything but easy,” but emphasized that the club is focusing on its future.

Bayern’s next match is a Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash at home against Inter Milan on Tuesday, followed by the return leg next Wednesday. The club is also leading the Bundesliga by nine points over defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, who have a game in hand.