Bayern Munich beat Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal to Dutch starlet Joshua Zirkzee
MANCHESTER UNITED, Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea have lost out to Bayern Munich in the race for Dutch wonderkid Josh Zirkzee.
The 16-year-old forward quit Feyenoord and has signed a long-term deal with the Bundesliga champions, just days after the German’s opened their new state-of-the-art youth academy.
FC Bayern Dutch teenager Joshua Zirkzee has joined Bayern Munich[/caption]
Ronald Koeman was close to landing Joshua Zirkzee after featured in a youth tournament for the ToffeesPA:Press Association
The teenager featured for Everton in a youth tournament in Prague earlier this year and the Merseysiders thought they had convinced the Dutch kid to move to Goodison Park.
Arsenal and Manchester United were in the mix for Zirkzee who decided to leave Holland and try his luck joining one of Europe’s elite clubs.
Portuguese side Benfica were also monitoring the youngster who is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in his age group on the continent.
However, the lure of the Bavarian giants was too much for Zirkzee to resist and Bayern announced the deal on their club website.
Academy chief Hermann Gerland said: “We are thrilled to have a very good talent with Joshua. He brings a lot of quality both physically and playfully.”
Retired skipper Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller are all academy products who went on to have huge success at Bayern.
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Getty Images - Getty Joshua Zirkzee has played for Holland U16’s[/caption]
Reuters Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has praised the clubs new academy[/caption]
Arsene Wenger was chasing Joshua ZirkzeeGetty Images - Getty
Getty Images - Getty Jose Mourinho and United academy chief Nicky Butt were keeping tabs on Joshua Zirkzee[/caption]
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