Deal done: Douglas Costa at Bayern Munich
July 1, 2015Bayern Munich have signed Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian attacking midfielder Douglas Costa on a five-year contract for a reported 30 million euros ($33.3 million). Costa, who can play on either flank, has been touted as Franck Ribery's heir as the Frenchman, who will miss the start of the season due to injury, continues to be plagued by an ankle problem.
"Douglas Costa will be good for our team," the club's sporting director Matthias Sammer told the Bayern homepage. "He has great technical ability, a powerful left foot, he is very agile and extremely quick."
Costa, 24-years-old, had been with Shakhtar since 2010 and leaves having won the Ukrainian title five times along with three Ukrainian Cups and four Super Cups. He also featured for Shakhtar against Bayern in the Champions League round of 16 last season.
"A dream has come true for me today," read Costa's statement on the website. "I'm proud to become a player for Bayern, following in the footsteps of so many magnificent Brazilian players. I'm looking forward to playing for this magnificent team and will do everything I can to fulfil the expectations placed in me."
Costa, who has nine caps for Brazil, recently played for his country at the Copa America in Chile and will therefore report for duty at his new club on July 11.
Bayern's season starts at Wolfsburg on August 1 for the Super Cup, which is followed by their German Cup first round tie against Nöttingen and then the first Bundesliga game of the 2015/16 season against Hamburg at home on Friday, August 14.
jh/apc (dpa, AP)