Transfer Centre

Eric Dier arrives in Germany ahead of Bayern Munich move

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 11 January 2024

Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier is pictured arriving in Germany as he prepares to complete his imminent move to Bayern Munich.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier has arrived in Germany as he prepares to complete his imminent move to Bayern Munich.

The England international - whose Spurs deal expires this summer - is believed to have reached a verbal agreement with the German champions several days ago, although Tottenham refused to let him depart for free.

The Lilywhites were also determined to bring in a replacement for Dier before allowing him to end his North London stint, and they have succeeded in their endeavours by bringing in Radu Dragusin from Genoa.

Dragusin is believed to have finalised his move to Tottenham on Wednesday, and with only an official announcement left to go, the Lilywhites have given Dier the green light to head to the Allianz Arena.

The two clubs are understood to have agreed a cut-price deal for the centre-back, who will sign a two or three-year contract with Bayern, and Tottenham will receive less than €5m (£4.3m) for the ex-Sporting Lisbon youngster.

🚨🎥 EXCLUSIVE NEWS ERIC DIER: He's a new player of FC Bayern!

➡️ He has arrived at the airport now!
➡️ Medical today!

Dier told me: „FC Bayern is an amazing club. Amazing!" #THFC @SkySportDE 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/ckq8VS2yuW
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 11, 2024

Dier was captured arriving in Munich by Sky Deutschland reporter Florian Plettenberg, who asked the England international if he was excited to play for Bayern, to which Dier responded: "Very much. Amazing club."

The 29-year-old's switch to the Allianz Arena will also see him reunite with former Tottenham teammate Harry Kane, who is believed to have been a driving force in bringing Dier to Bavaria.

Following Dier's arrival in Germany, Thomas Tuchel confirmed to the media that the 29-year-old would soon be donning the Bayern jersey, saying: "He's a specialist at centre-back," as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.

"We're getting him for the centre-back position, can play right or left centre-back as well as in back 3. He also used to play as a number six in Premier League some years ago."

Dier's move to Bayern will bring an end to the defender's nine-and-a-half-year spell with Tottenham, who poached him from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2014, prior to which he spent 18 months on loan at Everton.

Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier pictured on November 27, 2023 © Reuters

The 29-year-old has made 364 appearances for Tottenham across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and registering 12 assists in the process, having transitioned to a defensive role from his previous midfield position.

Dier was a stalwart of the Spurs backline under Antonio Conte, making 31 Premier League starts last season and scoring two goals, but his fortunes suffered a nosedive following the appointment of Ange Postecoglou.

Owing to the Australian's switch to a four-man defence and the arrival of Micky van de Ven - who formed a solid partnership with Cristian Romero - Dier was bumped down the pecking order and played just four games for Spurs in the first half of the season.

Dier has just one Premier League start to his name in 2023-24 - playing the full 90 in a 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers - and in spite of Van de Ven and Romero's recent absences, full-backs Ben Davies and Emerson Royal were often preferred in defence to the Englishman.

Confirmation of Dier's transfer to Bayern is expected imminently, and he could make his debut for Tuchel's side at home to Hoffenheim on Friday evening.