Bayern Munich signs young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig as possible successor for Manuel Neuer

Bayern Munich secures promising young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig from Cologne, signaling a future replacement for Manuel Neuer.

Bayern Munich is building for the future by snapping up goalkeeper Jonas Urbig from Cologne. The Bavarian powerhouse announced the transfer late Monday (January 27, 2025), though it had been expected for some time.

The 21-year-old Urbig is considered one of Germany’s best young goalkeepers, and his move to Bayern suggests the club believes he could one day replace Manuel Neuer, who is still No. 1 but heading toward the end of his career at 38.

“We’re delighted that we’ve been able to complete another transfer with a view to the future,” Bayern sports director Christoph Freund said, referring to Bayern also signing German youth international Tom Bischof last week.

Freund said Urbig is “very ambitious and has huge potential,” calling him “a modern goalkeeper who fits in very well with Bayern’s style of play in terms of the way he interprets goalkeeping.”

That suggests Urbig will be expected to follow Neuer’s example of aggressive goalkeeping, emerging from his goal quickly to snuff out danger with clearances, limiting the occasions he’ll be called upon to make a save.

Neuer, who can be far from his goal with his team in possession, is sometimes caught out, but more often he gives the team security going forward and the opposition little time to recover from pressure.

Kicker magazine reported Bayern was paying up to 10 million euros including bonuses to Cologne for Urbig. He is expected to compete with the 36-year-old Sven Ulreich and injured Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz for the No. 2 position behind Neuer.