Bayern signs Liverpool forward Diaz on 4-year deal

Munich, July 31: Bayern Munich signed Liverpool winger Luis Díaz to a four-year contract on Wednesday in the German champion's biggest deal of the offseason so far.

The move balances out Liverpool's heavy spending with a fee reported at 75 million euros ($87 million) by German media, while Bayern dips into the millions it earned at the Club World Cup, a competition Liverpool didn't qualify for.

Díaz had been with Liverpool since 2022 and scored 17 goals in 50 games across all competitions last season as the club won the Premier League title.

"From today on I'm part of this lovely family," Diaz said in Spanish in a video message posted on Bayern's social media accounts.

Liverpool had dismissed talk of the 28-year-old Colombia winger leaving but its approach shifted when he was left out of the squad for a preseason friendly loss to AC Milan on Saturday.

Diaz's departure comes in an offseason where Liverpool has spent heavily strengthening a team that won a record-equaling 20th English league title last term.

Coach Arne Slot has focused on his attack with the signings of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. Liverpool's total spend is around $342 million and there could be more arrivals before the transfer window shuts on Sept. 1.

Bayern's offer appears to have been too good to refuse and could heighten speculation that the Premier League champion will move for Newcastle forward Alexandar Isak.

Diaz joined Liverpool from Porto for an initial 45 million euros ($50 million) in 2022 — replacing Sadio Mané, who went to Bayern — and won the Premier League, FA Cup and two English League Cups in his time at Anfield.

Germany has loomed large in Liverpool's recent transfer business as the club signed attacking midfielder Wirtz and right back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, plus striker Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt. It also sold defender Jarell Quansah to Leverkusen.

It's the first big transfer fee paid this offseason by Bayern, which raised money from selling striker Mathys Tel to Tottenham and cut its wage bill when forwards Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané both left the club.

Bayern's signings of defender Jonathan Tah from Leverkusen and young midfielder Tom Bischof from Hoffenheim only involved small sums to make them eligible for the Club World Cup, weeks before they would have joined anyway as free agents.

Xhaka returns to EPL 

Granit Xhaka returned to the Premier League on Wednesday with a move to newly-promoted Sunderland.

The former Arsenal captain joined from Bayer Leverkusen and signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light.

The 32-year-old Xhaka spent seven years at Arsenal, where he won two FA Cups before moving to Germany and helping Leverkusen lift the Bundesliga title in 2024 as part of a league and cup double.

At Sunderland, his primary task will likely be to help the club avoid relegation. "We are back to where this club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history. I feel that I'm ready to help the team with my experience but with quality as well," Xhaka said.

Trafford returns to City 

James Trafford has signed a deal to return to Manchester City from Burnley, the Premier League giants announced on Tuesday. Man City activated a £27.5 million ($36.7 million) buy-back clause for the 22-year-old England youth international, according to British media reports. Trafford, who never played for the City senior team during his first spell at the Etihad Stadium, left for Burnley in 2023.  (AP)