Bayern Munich Confirm Signing of Alexander Nubel for 2020-21 Season

TF-Images/Getty Images

Bayern Munich have completed the acquisition of Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nubel for the 2020-21 season.

The German giants confirmed the signing on Saturday:

Nubel will head to the Allianz Arena to provide competition for Germany captain Manuel Neuer, having broken into the Schalke first-team last season.

The signing has the potential to be a bargain one for Bayern, with the 23-year-old’s current deal set to expire at the end of the campaign. In a statement on their website, the Munich club confirmed Nubel will pen a five-year deal.

According to Christian Falk of Sport Bild, Bayern expect their new acquisition to put pressure on Neuer for his starting berth next term: 

Nubel has proved himself to be a steady operator in the Bundesliga, helping Schalke to the fourth-best defensive record in the division at the winter break. His reflexes are sharp, as is his shot-stopping and work under the high ball.

The goalkeeper still has work to do in other facets of his game, though, most notably in terms of developing as a sweeper ‘keeper. 

Earlier in the campaign, Nubel made this rash challenge in his team’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, resulting in a red card: 

It will be intriguing to see how he develops at Bayern and how the stopper copes with the pressure of playing for such a high-profile side.

German football writer Jonathan Harding believes Nubel has plenty of talent, although he suggested this transfer may come a little too soon for him: 

At 33 years old, Neuer is in what would typically be considered the prime years of a goalkeeper’s career. His awareness and ability on the ball gives Bayern an extra dimension at the base of the team, too.

Nubel may not expect a lot of playing time in his debut season at Bayern. But for now, he’ll be tasked with finishing this campaign strongly with Schalke, who are fifth in the table; they trail Bayern by three points at the halfway point of the season.