Joao Palhinha, a 28-year-old midfielder who recently played the full 90 minutes in Portugal’s Euro 2024 last-16 match against Slovenia, is on the verge of joining Bayern Munich in a deal worth £42.3m plus £4.2m in add-ons. This transfer will be a record sale for Fulham, where Palhinha currently plays, and comes shortly after manager Marco Silva turned down an offer to move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
Palhinha made the switch to Fulham from Sporting Lisbon in 2022 for a fee of approximately £17m and was named the club’s player of the year in his debut season at Craven Cottage. During his time at Fulham, he made 79 appearances and scored eight goals. This move to Bayern Munich marks a significant step in Palhinha’s career and could potentially elevate him to new heights in European football. After his impressive performances at both club and international level, he is poised to make a major impact at his new club and continue his upward trajectory in the sport.
The transfer is expected to be announced soon, with Bayern confirming their interest in signing Palhinha earlier this month. The deal includes a buyback clause that would allow Fulham to reacquire Palhinha for £50m after two years if they so choose. If this transfer goes through, it will be a significant boost for both Fulham and Bayern Munich, as well as for Portuguese football as a whole.
Bayern Munich has been actively looking for reinforcements ahead of next season’s Champions League campaign, with Palhinha being seen as an ideal addition to their midfield lineup. He has experience playing at the highest level and has shown great potential during his time with Portugal’s national team.
Fulham fans are disappointed about losing such a talented player but are excited about what the future holds for him at Bayern Munich.
Palhinha will face France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 next week, which could potentially be his last match on the international stage before leaving for Germany.
