Now he’s where he’s wanted to be for a year. Jonathan Tah was visibly delighted that his transfer from Leverkusen to Munich went through. For him, it’s also a personal step to get out of his comfort zone, as he explains.
Now he’s (finally) here. After a year’s delay, center back Jonathan Tah has now officially been presented. He was supposed to and wanted to move from Leverkusen to Munich last summer. In the end, the transfer fell through because of the transfer fee. Now that was no longer an obstacle, but only a minor stumbling block before the Club World Cup. But even there, the Munich bosses quickly found a solution with those responsible at Bayer 04. Just under 800,000 euros plus performance-related bonuses will flow from the Isar to the west of the republic so that Tah can play in the tournament in the USA with FC Bayern.
“I’m delighted that it’s worked out,” said the 29-year-old. Due to other interested parties such as FC Barcelona, it took a while, but “it was the decision I wanted to make.” Because Tah already “had a good feeling last year.” He added: “I looked at what was best for me, and that’s FC Bayern.” With a coach who holds a special place in Tah’s heart.
Tah: “A personal step, out of my comfort zone”
Born in Hamburg, he “naturally followed Kompany” as a teenager, as he explains: “I’m a Hamburg boy at heart.” Background: Vincent Kompany played for HSV from 2006 to 2008. Tah, who only joined the HSV youth team in 2009, followed the former center back during his time in the Hanseatic city. The Munich newcomer has long been playing in central defense himself and is set to become the FCB’s defensive leader – and he knows: “Kompany can help me grow and become better.”
Here at the German record champions, where “everything is bigger,” as Tah says: “It’s a big step, the expectations are higher.” It is also a “personal step to get out of my comfort zone. There will be many challenges.” But he feels well prepared for this, just before the start of this new club world championship. “I’m ready,” he says. Ready for whatever comes. It all kicks off on Sunday at 6 p.m. German time with the first game against Auckland City in Cincinnati.
