Bayern Munich Add Much Needed Defensive Depth

As expected, Bayern Munich has reacted to Lucas Hernández’s injury by signing Dutch left-back Daley Blind. The 32-year-old arrives as a free transfer after his contract with Ajax was mutually terminated in December 2023. Blind has signed a contract until the summer of 2023 with an option for one additional season.

“We’re delighted that Daley is joining our team,” director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic said in a club statement. “Daley is a versatile defender, capable of playing on the left or in the center. He has great international experience and leadership qualities. I’m sure he’ll help us.”

Blind expressed his excitement about joining a new club that might be very well among the favorites to win the Champions League in the spring. “We’ve got the most important part of the season coming up, where it’s about titles – and a club like Bayern can win every trophy. The hunger for titles here at the club was key in my decision. I hope I can bring my experience to help the team.”

Because, make no mistake, titles are all that matters at the end of the season for head coach Julian Nagelsmann. Nagelsmann, in fact, has been the driving force behind this transfer. The bench boss wanted a player that could back up Canadian star Alphonso Davies at left-back.

Signing a left-back then became more urgent when Hernández suffered a cruciate ligament injury that will keep him out until the end of the season. Although Hernández has firmly established himself as a center-back now, the Frenchman was also the go-to left-back backup option for Nagelsmann. Blind, however, offers far more than just a reliable backup for Davies.

The 32-year-old can also play center-back, right-back,, and even defensive midfielder. Available on a free transfer and willing to sign a short-term deal, the 99-time Dutch national team player was the perfect short-term solution for the Rekordmeister.

Blind will also add significant experience to the dressing room. The defender not only played all five games for the Netherlands at the winter World Cup but has also played 333 games for Ajax across all competitions (13 goals and 21 assists) and 141 games for Man United across all competitions (six goals and ten assists).

In terms of his stats, Blind also still has something to offer should Bayern need to rely on him in the worst case. After all, the 32-year-old led the Eredivisie with 1049 overall passes this season and 243 passes to the final third. Blind was third in the league with 44.44% completed through passes and fourth with 88.48% completed passes to the final third.

And there is more. Blind also led the Eredivisie with 23.07 progressive passes per 90 minutes while ranking second in the same category with a 90.57% completion rate. Finally, Blind led the league with 9.7 ball progressions per minute.

Blind, of course, achieved those numbers while playing for one of the most dominant teams in the Eredivisie. But the reality is that he will be in the same situation with Bayern in the Bundesliga. Furthermore, Blind will be aided by the fact that Bayern is still heavily influenced by the Ajax system first implemented by Louis van Gaal over ten years ago. That should provide the Dutchman with some familiarity, and the player, as a result, could turn out as a very shrewd winter signing for Bayern.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth