Bayern Munich star Thomas Mueller has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season after spending 25 years with the German giants.
The 35-year-old made the announcement on Saturday through a social media post, saying Bayern will not offer him a new contract. His current deal ends this summer.
“This is not what I would have wished,” Mueller said. “But I felt the appreciation from everyone involved after my long time with Bayern.”
He added that he didn’t like how the issue was discussed in public but thanked the club and fans for their support.
Mueller joined Bayern’s youth academy at age 10 and made his first-team debut in 2008. Since then, he has played a record 743 matches for the club, scoring 247 goals and providing 273 assists.
During his time at Bayern, Mueller won 12 Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies. He was also part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning team and retired from international football after Euro 2024.
Bayern Munich confirmed the news in a statement, adding that Mueller will be honoured with a special farewell match and will play at the Club World Cup in July.
Club president Herbert Hainer praised Mueller, saying, “Thomas Mueller had the definition of a Bavarian fairytale career.”
Born in Weilheim, near Munich, Mueller spent his entire professional career with Bayern. But in recent seasons, he has been used more often as a substitute, leading to talk about a possible exit.
Although Mueller didn’t say where he would play next, German media suggests he may move to the United States to join Major League Soccer (MLS).
His former teammate, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, who now plays for the New York Red Bulls, had earlier told *Kicker*, “Thomas is a Bayern legend… If he wants to take the step (to the US), we’ll see. Thomas, you already speak English… I’m watching you.”
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said letting Mueller go was “anything but easy,” but the club wants to focus on the future.
Mueller, for now, says he is concentrating on helping Bayern win the Bundesliga and reach the Champions League final, which will be played at their home stadium, the Allianz Arena.
Bayern’s next game is a Champions League quarter-final match against Inter Milan on Tuesday. With young midfielder Jamal Musiala injured, Mueller could be in the starting lineup.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern currently lead the table, nine points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who have a game in hand.
