12 August 2023 , 08:00
1063
0
England captain Harry Kane has sealed his £100million move to Bayern Munich, leaving Tottenham to become the German giants' record signing.
Thomas Tuchel has finally landed his first-choice transfer target following a summer-long pursuit, with Bayern splashing out to finally land Kane from a reluctant Spurs. He smashes Bayern's previous transfer record, having paid Atletico Madrid £72m for Lucas Hernandez in 2019.
Kane has signed a four-year contract at the Allianz Arena and will wear the No.9 shirt. The 30-year-old, who could win a trophy on Saturday night as Bayern face RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup, becomes the Bundesliga champions' fourth senior arrival through the door this summer after Konrad Laimer, Raphael Guerreiro and Kim Min-jae.
Kane said: "I'm very happy to be a part of FC Bayern now. Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and I've always said that I want to compete and prove myself at the highest level during my career. This club is defined by its winning mentality - it feels very good to be here."
Bayern president Herbert Hainer added: "Welcome to Munich, Harry Kane! We're very happy about this top-quality new arrival. The transfer required tenacity, bite and perseverance - my compliments to all those involved in these negotiations at FC Bayern, led by our CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. Harry Kane will not only strengthen FC Bayern, but also be a real asset to the entire Bundesliga."
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy expressed his disappointment with Kane's exit but thanked the England captain for his contribution as Spurs, going down as one of their greatest ever players. "We sought over a long period of time to engage Harry and his representatives in several forms of contract extension, both short and long term," Levy explained.
"Harry was clear, however, that he wanted a fresh challenge and would not be signing a new contract this summer. We have reluctantly, therefore, agreed to his transfer."
Harry Kane failed to win a trophy during his time at Tottenham (Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)Having spent his entire club career in England, Kane will now play his football overseas for the first time as Bayern attempt to win the Bundesliga title for the 12th successive season. And he could be in line to win his first trophy immediately, with Kane eligible to face RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup on Saturday night.
As for Tottenham, Kane's departure brings to an end his 19-year association with the club, having first joined from Watford, aged 11, in 2004. After spending some time out on loan at Leyton Orient, Kane made his first-team debut in August 2011 during a Europa League qualifier against Hearts.
Harry Kane scored 280 goals for Tottenham (Getty Images)Kane would go on to feature a further five times that season, before going out on loan again, this time to Millwall for the second half of the 2011/12 campaign. Kane, who scored nine times in 27 matches for the Lions, endured more loans at Norwich and Leicester, before being handed a chance in the Tottenham senior side.
The Walthamstow-born forward scored his first Premier League goal against Sunderland in April 2014, and it is safe to say he has not looked back since that moment. He cemented himself in the Tottenham side the following season under Mauricio Pochettino and netted 31 times in 51 appearances in the process.
Kane went on to spearhead Tottenham's push for the Premier League title, although Spurs eventually missed out in successive seasons to Leicester and Chelsea respectively. Despite Tottenham's failure to get over the line and even win a trophy, Kane consistently performed season after season.
He became Tottenham's all-time top scorer back in February with his 267th in a 1-0 win over Manchester City, leapfrogging Jimmy Greaves in the process. Kane ended the 2022/23 season with 30 Premier League goals and was second in the division's top scorers list behind Manchester City's Erling Haaland.