Mueller to leave Bayern Munich after 25 years

Bayern Munich legend Thomas Mueller confirmed on 5 April 2025 that the club will not offer him a new contract, marking the end of his 25-year career with the Bundesliga giants. The 35-year-old's current contract is set to expire in the summer, and he expressed his disappointment over the decision in a post on social media, stating that it was made by the club and was "not what I would have wished."

Mueller revealed that he didn't appreciate how the contract negotiations were handled in the public eye in recent months. However, he acknowledged that he felt appreciated by everyone involved at Bayern after his long tenure. "The special connection to the club and our fantastic fans will always remain," he added.

A product of Bayern's youth system, Mueller has won two Champions League titles and 12 Bundesliga titles during his time with the club. His focus remains on finishing the season strong, aiming to win the league title and reach the Champions League final, which will be held at Bayern's Allianz Arena.

Later that day, Bayern Munich released a statement announcing that Mueller would be honoured with a testimonial match, and he is set to play in the Club World Cup in July. Bayern president Herbert Hainer praised Mueller, calling his career "the definition of a Bavarian fairytale."

Mueller, born in the Bavarian town of Weilheim, joined Bayern aged 10 and made his first-team debut under coach Jurgen Klinsmann in 2008 against Hamburg. Over his career, the midfielder has made 743 appearances for Bayern in all competitions, the most in the club's history, contributing 247 goals and 273 assists.

In recent seasons, Mueller has found himself starting from the bench more regularly, leading to speculation about his future. Though he did not reveal his next destination, there is ongoing speculation in the German media that he may make a late-career move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.

Former Bayern teammate Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting, who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls, expressed interest in having Mueller join him in the MLS, saying, "Thomas is a Bayern legend, so I would be happy for him if he continues there. If he wants to take the step to the US, we'll see. Thomas, you already speak English... I'm watching you."

Mueller is also tipped for a role in Bayern's administration once his playing days are over. A 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, he retired from international duty after Euro 2024, having earned 131 caps and scored 45 goals for his country.

Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl acknowledged the difficult decision to part ways with Mueller, adding that the club is "putting the focus on the future."

Bayern's next match is on 9 April 2025, a Champions League quarter-final first-leg home tie against Inter Milan, with the return leg scheduled for the following Wednesday. Following a recent injury to Jamal Musiala in Bayern's 3-1 victory over Augsburg on 7 April, Mueller may be in line for a rare start in the upcoming match.

In the Bundesliga, Bayern currently sit nine points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, who have a game in hand at Heidenheim on 8 April.