Bayern sign French teen Tel in deal worth up to $30m

MUNICH: Bayern Munich signed French teenager Mathys Tel from Rennes on Tuesday for a reported fee of up to 30 million euros ($30.6 million).

The 17-year-old Tel, who plays as a forward, had a contract with Rennes through 2024.

Bayern did not specify the length of the contract or disclose the transfer fee. Kicker magazine reported the German club was paying 15 million euros ($15.3 million) up front, with the rest conditional on appearances and achievements.

“He’s a very young talented player, he can play in many positions, center forward, wing forward. He’s very quick, strong, with his whole body, good at defending the ball … also good, deep runs,” B aye rn coach julian na gels mann said on the team’ s US tour last week. “I hope he will be comfortable with then group as soon as possible. He may score some goals.”

Na gels mann said Tel was not a direct replacementfor bu n des lig atop-scorer robert le wan dow ski, who let for Barcelona in the offseason.

“He’s not a one-on-one for Lewy,” Nagelsmann said. “I think it’s normal when you talk about his age and his appearances in professional Soccer. But he could one day be one of the best forwards and that’s our aim, our plan. We always try to find good young talented players who could develop into world-class players, and he could be one of these players.”

Tel made 10 appearances for Rennes without scoring. But his performances as a youth player - including winning the European under-17 championship as France captain last month - brought him to the atention of Europe’s biggest clubs.

“Tel is a very interesting player that we’ve been following for a long time,” Bayern chief executive Oliver kahn said recently .“an extremely good talent .”

Bayern have already signed Sadio Mane from Liverpool, Dutch centre-back Mathijs de Ligt from Juventus and Ajax pair Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui in the close season. The Bavarian giants face RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup next weekend before opening their Bundesliga title defence at Eintracht Frankfurt on Aug.5.

A former youth academy player of Paris FC, Tel joined Rennes in 2020. He made his professional debut on Aug. 15 2021 in a 1–1 league draw against Brest. His debut at 16 years and 110 days made him the youngest player to appear in an official match for Rennes, a record which was previously held by Eduardo Camavinga.