Eric Dier has sealed his move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich with his former Tottenham Hotspur and Premier League team-mate Mousa Dembele paying tribute to a ‘legend’.
OK, that may be pushing it a little – Eric Dier departs after a couple of difficult years, and having barely kicked a ball in anger since the appointment of Ange Posecoglou after all – but you’d need a heart of stone not to at least wish him all the best in his new Bavarian adventure.
Dier, after all, joined Tottenham all the way back in 2014 from Sporting Lisbon. He was a key part of the glorious if trophyless Mauricio Pochettino era. A loyal and committed servant throughout multiple eras, good and bad.
Eric Dier leaves Tottenham for Bayern Munich
The England international’s departure will see him reunite with Harry Kane at the Allianz Arena. And another man who played alongside both under Pochettino in North London needed only one word to sum up his thoughts on Dier’s Spurs legacy.
‘Legend’ was Dembele’s one-word reaction to Dier’s farewell post on Instagram.
“It’s only taken 24 hours to feel the size and the history but also the warmth of the club. I can’t wait to get to work and start this new journey,” the 29-year-old writes, another ex-Spurs man Matt Doherty issuing three flame emojis in response.
“Thank you all for your incredible welcome. See you at the Allianz.”
Replaced by Radu Dragusin
Dier, interestingly, only joined Bayern after Thomas Tuchel’s side had been pipped to the post by – yes – Tottenham for the signature of the highly sought-after Radu Dragusin.
The £26 million signing from Genoa could make his Spurs debut away to Manchester United on Monday, alongside fellow January recruit Timo Werner. There may also be a place in the Bayern Munich squad for Dier, Bayern kicking off the Bundesliga’s post-winter break return at home to Hoffenheim tonight.
“We’re really happy to have signed a very good defender,” Bayern director Christoph Freund tells FC BayernTV. “He’s very flexible. He played in midfield, right-back and, lately, at centre-back.
“He’s a really good guy with a good character. With his experience, he’ll be good for us on the pitch and in the dressing room.”
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