FC Bayern Munich have secured the signature of Ismael Saibari from PSV Eindhoven, though the Morocco international will not link up with his new teammates until after the World Cup. The Bundesliga champions confirmed the transfer, revealing that the versatile forward has agreed a contract running until 30 June 2031.
Saibari, 25, is currently representing Morocco at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. He will remain with the national squad throughout their campaign before travelling to Munich to begin preparations for the upcoming season. The attacker will wear the number 34 shirt for the Bavarians upon his arrival.
Max Eberl, Bayern’s board member for sport, highlighted the club’s early identification of Saibari’s potential. “We’re delighted to have secured the services of Ismael Saibari, one of the most exciting forwards at the World Cup,” Eberl stated. “Transfers like this don’t happen on the spur of the moment but are the result of long-term planning.”
The club official emphasised that clarity was crucial in convincing the player to commit. “The key factor was that we made our position clear to him early on because we were aware of Ismael’s skills and were able to show him a clear future with us from the start,” Eberl added. “Ismael Saibari will bring extra quality and unpredictability to our attacking play.”
Managerial influence
Head coach Vincent Kompany played a decisive role in persuading Saibari to swap the Eredivisie for the Bundesliga. The Belgian’s involvement proved instrumental in completing the deal before the World Cup began, ensuring Bayern secured the forward’s services ahead of any rival interest.
Saibari expressed his enthusiasm for joining the German giants. “As a child, you dream of signing a contract with a club like FC Bayern – everybody knows it’s one of the world’s biggest clubs,” he said. “FC Bayern compete for the biggest titles like the Champions League every year, and I want to win as many trophies as possible here.”
The forward believes the tactical approach in Munich suits his style. “FC Bayern’s play suits me, I can play my own style of football here, and I’ll work hard every day to help the team,” Saibari added. “Coach Vincent Kompany played a key role in my decision – I’m looking forward to working with him.”
What happens next
Saibari arrives from PSV, the reigning Dutch champions, representing a significant step up in his club career. His performances in the Netherlands had attracted attention from several major European sides, but Bayern moved decisively to secure a long-term agreement.
The Moroccan will integrate into Kompany’s squad upon his return from international duty, with the timing of his arrival dependent on Morocco’s progress in the tournament. Saibari’s addition provides further depth to Bayern’s attacking unit as they prepare to defend their Bundesliga crown and challenge for European honours.