Sydney FC in shock swoop for Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller
Müller, 35, is a free agent after departing Bayern, the only club he has ever played for, at the end of the recent FIFA Club World Cup after more than 500 games across nearly two decades, and is seeking a new experience to round out his career.
Though reports have linked him to Major League Soccer in the United States – and some have gone as far as to say he has already made up his mind – this masthead can reveal that the Sky Blues have been in discussions with Müller and his representatives for several weeks about an A-League switch, and that they remain an outside chance of convincing him.
An answer either way is expected within the next week or so, with the club recently informed that they are one of the final two options he is considering. The other is in MLS, and that is believed to be his favoured option, but Sydney are still in with a shot.
Sources with knowledge of negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Müller – a 13-time Bundesliga winner, two-time UEFA Champions League winner, and part of the Germany squad that won the 2014 World Cup – had been impressed with the pitch made to him by Sydney FC.
Two of his former teammates are already at the club: Brazilian star Douglas Costa, who he played with between 2015 and 2017 at Bayern Munich, and the retired Alexander Baumjohann, Sydney's head of player management who spent a year on the books at Germany's biggest club and is believed to be spearheading the attempt to sign him.
His recruitment would be an enormous boon for the financially stricken A-League and for Sydney FC, whose board has undergone an off-season restructure with the departure of long-time chairman Scott Barlow. Jan Voss, a German-Australian business executive and president of Ferrari Australasia, has replaced Barlow as chairman, while the club's foundation chairman Walter Bugno – hugely influential in their 'Bling FC' era – is back on the board as a director.
No A-League club – not even the Sky Blues – can compete with the wages that Müller would be able to attract in the US or elsewhere; like any high-profile player who decides to move to Australia, it would involve him prioritising the low-key lifestyle he would be able to enjoy in Sydney over money.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
NRL Judiciary: Souths to fight Jack Wighton's controversial charge as veteran five-eighth looks to avoid four-match ban
Rabbitohs five-eighth Jack Wighton will front the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night after the club decided to fight a potential three-match ban that will be increase to four games if the panel finds him guilty. Wighton was hit with a grade 2 charge after he was sent to the sin bin for a shoulder charge on Sharks forward Toby Rudolf, who left the field and will miss a match after he failed his head injury assessment. Jack Wighton will contest his charge at the NRL Judiciary on Tuesday night after entering a not guilty plea. READ MORE: — South Sydney Rabbitohs ðŸ�° (@SSFCRABBITOHS) July 28, 2025 The veteran playmaker will challenge the suspension and likely argue that it was merely a head clash, with Souths hoping he can avoid a ban given they are already missing so many injured stars. Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray and Campbell Graham were just some of the big names who missed the Sharks game, with Junior Tatola set for a stint on the sidelines after he dislocated his shoulder in the dying minutes. Five players were charged out of Sunday's fixtures, with Tom Starling, Ethan Strange, Toff Sipley, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Jaeman Salmon all facing fines if they accept the early guilty plea. Jack Wighton has been sent to the sin bin for this shoulder charge. ðŸ'° Watch #NRLSouthsSharks on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 26, 2025 Meanwhile, Dragons superstar Teagan Berry is facing a two-match ban after she was hit with a grade 3 dangerous contact charge for sliding in with her knees as Broncos winger Kerri Johnson scored in the corner. The foul play resulted in a potential eight-point try and Berry was sent to the sin bin. It could cost the Dragons dearly, with the NRLW's greatest try-scorer risking three matches if she fights the charge and loses at the judiciary. The Sharks are also set to be without Jaydika Tafua for 2-3 matches after she received a grade 3 charge for dangerous contact while trying to tackle Claudia Nielsen.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Shaken up': Four best friends share in Saturday Lotto jackpot
A group of friends from southwestern Sydney have pocketed a massive $4.2m win in Saturday Lotto. The four mates, who have been friends for three decades, held one of seven division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 4593, with their private syndicate winning $4,285,714.29, a split of $1,071,428.57 each. Speaking to The Lott, the syndicate leader said the four mates would 'help all our families'. 'It's a group of us that won,' he said. 'We've been friends for over 30 years. It'll be split four ways. 'It's funny thinking about how we used to hang out together and play together, and now we've won this together. 'We usually play when there's a big draw. I was the one who originally said, 'Let's do it!' because I would play when I was younger.' He said the four friends would 'certainly have to all get together and celebrate'. 'It's a huge prize,' he said. 'We'll be able to clear the mortgage, which is amazing. 'We might also do a trip away with family and friends. 'This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment! I'm still shaken up.'
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Western Sydney Airport official who sought $200k kickback narrowly avoids jail time
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has claimed its first scalp with the sentencing of a corrupt Western Sydney Airport official who asked for a $200,000 kickback. Sajish Erasery pleaded guilty to soliciting a corrupt commission after he attempted to invite a bribe from a company vying for a $5 million contract to provide automated parking systems at the soon-to-be completed airport. The anti-corruption watchdog found the former executive procurement manager had initially proposed he could "get the deal over the line" if he received $250,000, which equated to 5 per cent of the contract's value. The NACC said in a statement Erasery later reduced this figure to $200,000 and suggested a scheme to repay the business by inflating invoices. The Australian Federal Police arrested the man in March 2024 after his former employer referred the matter to the commission. He has been sentenced to two years' jail, which will be served in the community and require him to complete 500 hours of community service. The airport is due to be complete in 2026. Erasery is the first person to be sentenced following an investigation initiated by the NACC. Since the watchdog's inception, there have been convictions in nine other cases which were inherited from the former Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity in July 2023. The latest of those cases involved Anne McCann, a former Department of Home Affairs immigration officer, who abused power in public office by approving a visa application for her brother-in-law. Both matters were prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
