Making the Grade: Rating Bayern Munich’s winter transfer window

After plenty of drama, Bayern Munich survived the winter transfer window without making any rash moves that will cost the club for years to come. The majority of Bayern’s deals saw young players move around on short-term loan deals to get better minutes than Bayern can offer during the Rückrunde.

Mathys Tel

Grade: B

Terms: Six-month loan (€10M) to Tottenham with option-to-buy (€55M)

This deal was a win-win for all parties involved. A month ago, Tel refused to consider loan options. Two weeks later, Tel changed his tune but was incredibly picky about the circumstances. Tel was hesitant to leave Bayern permanently and even rejected a €60M sale to Tottenham before agreeing to a temporary loan.

Due to a few injuries in Tottenham’s attack, Tel should get plenty of playing time to prove his worth. If the move works out, both Tel and Tottenham must approve a summer sale. Tel gets immediate minutes and has complete control over his future.

This deal will convert to an “A” grade if the buy option is activated at the end of the loan spell, tripling Bayern’s profit since acquiring Tel from Rennes in 2022 for €20M.

Tim Bischof

Grade: A+++

Terms: Free transfer from Hoffenheim (in the summer)

Bischof is a fantastic young talent that will solidify himself as a playmaker in Bayern’s midfield for years to come. This financially-friendly move also gives Bayern valuable depth if Joshua Kimmich and/or Leon Goretzka leave the club in 2025. The 19-year-old German could legitimately be at Bayern for the next decade.

Adam Aznou

Grade: B

Terms: Six-month loan to Real Valladolid

Aznou has been upset with his lack of playing time but there was zero chance that he was going to overthrow Alphonso Davies. Real Valladolid is in the cellar of La Liga and has conceded 10 more goals than any other club in the division. The club will likely be relegated which will make the move back to Bayern in the summer a formality. Ideally, Aznou would have moved to a slightly better club but at least he will earn some playing time.

Jonas Urbig

Grade: C

Terms: €7M transfer from 1. FC Köln

In a few years, this deal might be considered a steal. But given the presence of Daniel Peretz, plus Manuel Neuer extending for another year, this seems like a waste of funds. Bayern’s succession plan to Neuer has been a constant game of throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks.

Arijon Ibrahimović

Grade: B

Terms: Six-month loan to Lazio

This is the kind of deal that Bayern should have gotten for Aznou. Ibrahimović spent last season in Serie A on loan with Frosinone so he will be in familiar territory. Sitting in fourth place in Serie A, Lazio also finished the Europa League group stage in the pole position. There will be plenty of quality minutes for the teenager.

Gabriel Vidović

Grade: B

Terms: Early termination of loan at Mainz

Vidović logged over 1,000 minutes in the previous two seasons on loan spells at Vitesse and Dinamo Zagreb. Originally a one-year loan deal, Vidović played a pathetic 49 minutes for Mainz this season and Bayern correctly ended the loan deal. Vidović will likely fill the minutes left by Mathys Tel until another loan deal sends him back out in the summer.

Frans Krätzig

Grade: A

Terms: Six-month loan to Heidenheim

Krätzig returned from a loan spell with Stuttgart and will head right back out to Heidenheim, joining Bayern loanee Paul Wanner. Heidenheim are fending off relegation in the Bundesliga and will take all the help they can get. Krätzig only played one Bundesliga match with Stuttgart and there is a much cleaner path to playing time at Heidenheim.

Taichi Fukui

Grade: B

Terms: €1M sale to FC Arouca

Since transferring to Bayern from Japanese club Sagan Tosu, Fukui has primarily played in Portugal. He’s already logged over 1,000 minutes this season for Arouca. This is a good move for the player but Bayern sacrificed some value in the deal.

Noël Aséko Nkili

Grade: B

Terms: 18-month loan to Hannover 96

Nkili is the only player on this list that is moving to a second division club. This is an upward move for Nkili who has played this season with Bayern II in the third division. The longer loan period also acknowledges that Nkili will not be contributing to Bayern’s senior squad in the near future.

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