After an illustrious 17-year professional career with FC Bayern Munich, club legend Thomas Müller has announced his departure at the end of the season. The 35-year-old forward shared the news via Instagram on Saturday morning, revealing that the club has opted not to extend his contract beyond the current campaign.
“The club has made a deliberate decision not to enter negotiations for a new contract,” Müller wrote in a heartfelt message to fans. “Although this does not align with my personal wishes, I respect that the club is acting in accordance with its vision and values.”
Müller acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, which he believes the board of directors and supervisory board did not take lightly. While he expressed some disappointment with the recent “public back-and-forth” surrounding his future, he also emphasized the continued appreciation he feels from those within the club for his longstanding service.
Shortly after Müller’s statement, Bayern Munich’s leadership issued their own tribute. Club President Herbert Hainer described Müller as “the embodiment of a Bavarian football fairytale,” while CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen called him “one of the greatest players in the club’s history.” Dreesen further characterized the separation as a “mutual agreement” reached through a “joint solution.”
Sporting director Max Eberl also weighed in, stating: “This was by no means an easy decision. In the end, it came down to future-oriented squad planning.”
Though Müller has not yet revealed whether he intends to continue his playing career elsewhere, he will remain with Bayern through the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place from June 15 to July 13.
A lifelong Bayern player, Müller joined the club’s youth academy in 2000 from TSV Pähl and made his senior debut under Jürgen Klinsmann in 2008. Over the years, he has established himself as a club icon, amassing a record 743 competitive appearances and scoring 247 goals—more than any other player in Bayern history.
His impressive list of achievements includes two UEFA Champions League titles, 12 Bundesliga championships, and six DFB-Pokal trophies. Internationally, Müller has been capped 131 times for Germany.
Müller’s departure marks the end of an era for FC Bayern, as the club prepares to transition into a new chapter without one of its most decorated and charismatic figures.
