Bayern Munich sign Eric Dier on short-term deal

Record German champions Bayern Munich announced the signing of Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur in a six-month loan deal worth £3 million, with an option to make the move permanent for a further year in the summer.

Dier will join former Tottenham and England teammate Harry Kane who has taken to life in the Bundesliga like a duck to water and tops the goal-scoring charts in the German top flight with 21 goals.

Dier's time at Spurs

The Englishmen had a memorable start to life at Spurs, scoring the winner for the Lillywhites in his club debut against West Ham United. He made 365 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham, scoring 13 goals. Dier was instrumental in helping Spurs reach the final of the EFL (Carabao) Cup in 2015 and 2021 and the UEFA Champions League final in 2019, where Spurs lost to Liverpool.

Dier reflected poignantly on his time at the North London club appreciating the work of the club, his teammates, staff and the passionate fanbase in making the club feel like home.

"It's been a hell of a journey and I'm extremely grateful to have spent these nine-and-a-half years at the club. Tottenham will forever hold a special place in my heart and I hope the fans can experience great success with the club moving forward. I'll be watching, supporting and hoping for the same," Dier said.

The Englishman added, "In the time that I've been here, I've developed a deep connection with everyone at the club. I made friends that I now consider some of my best friends. I've been incredibly lucky to work under some of the best managers in the world and I don't take any of those relationships and experiences for granted."

"I've changed a lot since the boy that first arrived at this club. The fans and the club ensured that I was received well. I'll miss the dressing room and this journey with people who've been there longer than me. It's the people that make a place what it is and a football club is no different."

The 29-year-old, who played less than 2,000 minutes of league football in only two of his nine-and-half seasons at Spurs has faced his struggles with form and injuries in the past few seasons.

The lack of form and fitness led to reduced game time for Dier who has played only 201 minutes this season under Ange Postecoglou, who preferred Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven and Ben Davies moving in from left-back to left-centre-back over Dier. The recent arrival of Romanian defender Radu Dragusin dealt the final blow to Dier's chances of having a regular crack at first-team football.

What does Dier offer to Bayern Munich?

The arrival of the Englishmen, who came through the ranks at Sporting CP's academy, adds more options to Thomas Tuchel's backline depleted by the absence of Kim Min-Jae and Noussair Mazraoui who will represent South Korea and Morocco in the Asian Cup and AFCON, respectively.

Dier will face stiff competition from first-team regulars Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt but his versatility allows him to slot in at centre-back, right-back or defensive midfield, providing strength and leadership at the back for Tuchel's side.

It remains to be seen how much game time the 29-year-old will receive and whether Bayern will activate the option to sign Dier permanently in the summer.