Bayern Munich signs right back Sacha Boey from Galatasaray
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FILE - Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, left, challenges for the ball with Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey during the Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Manchester United in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 29, 2023. Bayern Munich has signed French defender Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in a deal that could be worth more than 35 million euros ($38 million). (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
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FILE - Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey, centre, and Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano, centre left, challenge for the ball during the Champions League group A soccer match between Bayer Munich and Galatasaray at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Nov. 8, 2023. Bayern Munich has signed French defender Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in a deal that could be worth more than 35 million euros ($38 million). (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
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FILE - Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, left, challenges for the ball with Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey during the Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Manchester United in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 29, 2023. Bayern Munich has signed French defender Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in a deal that could be worth more than 35 million euros ($38 million). (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
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FILE - Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, left, challenges for the ball with Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey during the Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Manchester United in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 29, 2023. Bayern Munich has signed French defender Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in a deal that could be worth more than 35 million euros ($38 million). (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
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FILE - Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey, centre, and Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano, centre left, challenge for the ball during the Champions League group A soccer match between Bayer Munich and Galatasaray at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Nov. 8, 2023. Bayern Munich has signed French defender Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in a deal that could be worth more than 35 million euros ($38 million). (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
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FILE - Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey, centre, and Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano, centre left, challenge for the ball during the Champions League group A soccer match between Bayer Munich and Galatasaray at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Nov. 8, 2023. Bayern Munich has signed French defender Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in a deal that could be worth more than 35 million euros ($38 million). (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
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MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich has signed French defender Sacha Boey from Galatasaray in a deal that could be worth more than 35 million euros ($38 million).
Boey has signed a contract through 2028 and could become Bayern’s first-choice right back as it tries to catch Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen.
Galatasaray said it will receive 30 million euros ($32.6 million) as a transfer fee, with another 5 million euros ($5.43 million) in potential bonuses and an agreement to stage two friendlies between the clubs and share the profits.
“Sacha Boey is a very quick and physically strong right back, who covers a lot of ground in every game and doesn’t shy away from any tackles,” Bayern sporting director Christian Freund said.
“He was a fan favorite at Galatasaray, has developed very well down the years, arrives with Champions League experience and won the league title with Galatasaray last season. He will increase our quality in defence.”
The 23-year-old right back gives Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel more options in a short-staffed defense further thinned by injuries.
Noussair Mazraoui has been the first choice at right-back but hasn’t played for Bayern since Dec. 12 because of injuries and representing Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations. Backup Josip Stanisic is on loan at title rival Leverkusen, so midfielder Konrad Laimer has frequently been asked to cover the right back role.
Laimer too is now injured, so Raphael Guerreiro, who’s usually a left back, covered in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Augsburg. Bayern is two points behind league leader Leverkusen.
Boey emerged from Rennes’ renowned youth system in France but moved to the Turkish league with Galatasaray at the age of 20 in 2021. That switch helped him to play in the Champions League for the first time this season, including in two games against Bayern.
“This is a dream come true for me. It’s an honour for me to get to play for such a big club like Bayern,” Boey said. “I’m really looking forward to my new team and getting to play with all these great players in the future.”
Boey is Bayern’s second signing this month after bringing in central defender Eric Dier on loan from Tottenham.
He could make his debut for Bayern at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Feb. 3. Bayern’s next Champions League game is Feb. 14 at Lazio.
___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
