Contract poker at Bavaria
After Upamecano deal: Is he next?
02/03/2026 – 4:43 p.mReading time: 4 minutes
FC Bayern is currently setting important course for the future. After Goretzka and Upamecano, the focus is now on Neuer and Gnabry, among others.
The first major personnel decisions with a view to the coming season have already been made at FC Bayern. Just last week, the record champions announced that Leon Goretzka’s contract, which expired in the summer, would no longer be extended. The international player’s farewell after eight years in Munich has now been decided. And the future of Dayot Upamecano now seems to have finally been clarified.
As various German media and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano unanimously report, the Frenchman will extend his contract with Bayern, which is limited until the summer. The months of poker are now over and the contract extension, which was the Munich team’s top priority, has been successfully completed, even if it came at a high price for Bayern (you can read all the details about FC Bayern’s million-dollar deal with Upamecano here).
This leaves sports director Max Eberl and sports director Christoph Freund’s list with four players whose contracts also expire in the summer. t-online explains what’s next for this quartet.
Serge Gnabry (30): Just like last year, the attacking midfielder was again considered a candidate for farewell and sale this summer. In the absence of Jamal Musiala, who missed the entire first half of the season due to injury, Gnabry took his chance. In the first half of the season he was an integral part of Kompany’s successful team in the central attacking midfield. And even after the turn of the year and Musiala’s return, Gnabry was able to continue his strong performances. His technically demanding touchdown-lob goal to make it 3-1 against Cologne is particularly memorable.
In this form, a contract extension, which was considered almost impossible in the summer, is now likely and almost logical. A new contract until 2028 is currently under discussion. However, Gnabry would probably have to be prepared to make significant cuts in terms of his salary. With an estimated 19 million euros per year, the national player is one of the absolute top earners. “You somehow try to find a way so that we don’t exceed our budget, so that we can make the players an offer that they can live with,” said Eberl. “Hopefully we will find ways and bridges there.” This has now apparently been successful. The announcement of Gnabry’s contract extension is reportedly imminent.
