Borussia Monchengladbach, a fellow Bundesliga team, has lost Yann Sommer to Bayern Munich.
While playing at Gladbach, Sommer, a Switzerland international, consistently ranked among the top goalkeepers in Germany.
The 34-year-old, whose agreement was about to expire at the end of the current campaign, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Bayern for a rumoured cost of around €8 million.
After Manuel Neuer broke his leg while skiing in December and was ruled out for the remainder of the season, Bayern wanted to expand their options in goal.
Alexander Nubel’s loan at Monaco had the potential to be called back, but Sommer always looked to be the top priority.
Despite Gladbach’s insistence they did not wish to sell him, Sommer reportedly asked to leave, and a deal was struck between the clubs on Wednesday.
“I’m really looking forward to my new role at Bayern. It’s a big club with power, we’ve often played against each other – I know about the enormous quality and charisma of this club,” Sommer said on his transfer.
“I’m proud to be part of Bayern now. We have big tasks ahead of us. I’m really looking forward to the start with my new colleagues and to everything that’s coming.
“I would like to thank Borussia Monchengladbach for eight and a half great years and for making this transfer possible.”
Sommer joined Gladbach in 2014 and made 272 Bundesliga appearances. Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann is the only goalkeeper to have played more times in the competition in the same period.
Of goalkeepers to make 10 or more Bundesliga appearances in that time, Sommer’s save percentage of 71.1 is the seventh best and ranks similarly to Neuer’s (72.5). He has kept 70 clean sheets.
Sommer has only made 10 appearances in the competition this season but boasts the second-best save percentage (77.1) behind Union Berlin’s Frederik Ronnow (79.1).
Bayern restart their campaign against Julian Nagelsmann’s former team RB Leipzig on Friday.