By Samuel A. June 22, 2024
Bayern Munich have reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign winger Michael Olise, according to several journalists’ reports. The Bundesliga giants will pay €60m (£50.7m) including add-ons to bring the 22 year old to the Allianz Arena. It was reported last week that Bayern, Chelsea and Newcastle had approached Palace before Chelsea dropped out of the race to sign Olise. Chelsea offered the player a competitive financial package but he wanted to move to Bayern. He is now expected to sign a contract until 2029 with Vincent Kompany’s side.
After joining Palace in 2021, Olise scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 19 appearances last season, despite a largely injury hit campaign. His current deal with the Premier League club was not due to expire until 2027.
The German club had contacted Palace, while Chelsea were given the go ahead to speak to Olise before deciding the finances involved were beyond reach and chose not to proceed. Newcastle United also approached the Selhurst Park club while Manchester United and Manchester City have long retained a strong interest in the player.
Olise was close to completing a move to Chelsea last summer but he opted to stay in south London, signing a new four-year deal. His star further rose when he was named in France Under-23 head coach Thierry Henry’s preliminary squad for this summer’s Olympic Games.
The men’s football tournament runs from July 24 to August 9, when the gold medal match is scheduled to take place in Paris. If France make it to the final, Olise would have just two weeks to recover before the opening day of the 2024-25 Bundesliga campaign.
