Bayern Munich completed their first big transfer of the off-season on Wednesday by signing Brazil international Douglas Costa from Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported 30 million euros ($33.3m).
The fleet-footed winger or striker has signed a five-year deal with the German champions and will battle for a place on the left wing with Franck Ribery, who is struggling with a persistent ankle injury.
“This is a dream come true for me. I’m looking forward to joining an awesome team,” Costa said in a press conference in Munich.
“I will do everything I can to meet the expectations put on me.”
Costa is the fourth most expensive signing in Bayern’s history after Javi Martinez (who cost 40 million euros), Mario Goetze (37 million) and Mario Gomez (35 million).
“Douglas Costa will be a good addition to our squad, he has good technical skills, a strong left foot and is extremely quick,” said Bayern’s director of sportMatthias Sammer.
The 24-year-old, full name Douglas Costa de Souza, is on holiday now until the Bayern team is presented on July 11, and was only a spectator as head coach Pep Guardiola oversaw Bayern’s first training session to prepare for the new season on Wednesday with only 12 players available and most of his stars still on holiday.
Costa made the last of his nine appearances for the Selecao in their Copa America quarter-final defeat to Chile last week when he missed a spot-kick as Brazil suffered a 4-3 defeat in a penalty shoot-out as it finished 1-1 after extra time.
He is Bayern’s third signing ahead of the new season after Germany Under 21 midfielder Joshua Kimmich from second-division RB Leipzig and goalkeeper Sven Ulreich from VfB Stuttgart.
Bayern have recalled midfielders Julian Green, Pierre-Emile Hoejbjerg and Jan Kirchhoff have all returned after loan spells at other clubs as they bid to become the first German team to win fourth consecutive Bundesliga titles. – Agence France-Presse
