Bundesliga
Alvaro Odriozola joins Bayern from Real
Bayern Munich have completed the signing of right-back Alvaro Odriozola on loan from Real Madrid as the Bundesliga champions seek to bolster their squad for the second half of the season.
The 24-year-old arrives at the Allianz Arena on a six-month deal until the end of the 2019/20 campaign with Bayern as they look to defend their Bundesliga crown for an eighth consecutive season. He will wear the number 2 shirt.
Spain international Odriozola made 27 competitive appearances for the Madrid club during his 18-month spell at the Santiago Bernabeu following his move from Real Sociedad.
"Following internal discussions, we decided to comply with the desire of our head coach Hansi Flick for defensive reinforcements and together decided on Alvaro Odriozola," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The San Sebastian native struggled to break into the Real team ahead of former Bayer Leverkusen man Dani Carvajal and is expected to provide the record German champions with cover at right-back. That would allow Joshua Kimmich to play in his preferred midfield spot, while FIFA World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard could move into central defence.
Odriozola was in the Spain squad for that 2018 tournament in Russia but didn’t feature as the 2010 winners were knocked out on penalties by the hosts in the round of 16.
"We're convinced Alvaro Odriozola will help our team with his qualities," said sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. "I'm pleased we've found such a full-back."
A product of the Sociedad academy that also produced former Bayern midfielder Xabi Alonso, the right-back made over 50 appearances for the first team in just a season and a half of senior football following his breakthrough in January 2017.
This season in Madrid, though, he’s played just four times, providing an assist for another former Bayern man, James Rodriguez, in the 4-2 win at home to Granada.