FC Barcelona exec admits Bayern Munich beat them to a major signing last summer

Barcelona sporting director Deco has confirmed that the Catalan club were “very advanced” in negotiations to sign German defender Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, only for the 28-year-old to ultimately join Bayern Munich on a cut-price deal.

Tah’s move to the Bavarians cost just over €1 million, a fee triggered to ensure his availability for December’s Club World Cup, after his Leverkusen contract entered its final months. The minimal outlay for an experienced international centre-back had made the proposition attractive to Barça, who were searching for defensive reinforcements without a heavy financial commitment.

In an interview with Diario Sport, Deco conceded: “We were in very advanced negotiations to sign Jonathan Tah, but the agreement collapsed at the end and he joined Bayern.”

The switch proved an immediate success for Bayern. Tah stepped straight into the starting lineup and has since forged a solid partnership with Dayot Upamecano, shoring up a back line that had shown vulnerability in previous campaigns. His aerial strength and tactical acumen have dovetailed with coach Hansi Flick’s high-line system, offering the club both short-term stability and long-term depth.

For Barcelona, missing out on Tah represented a setback in their transfer blueprint. The club had identified the defender as an ideal fit for their tactical setup, yet financial wrangling and competing interests allowed Bayern to swoop. The episode underscores the increasingly fierce competition between Europe’s elite for bargain opportunities in the final months of player contracts.

While Bayern now contemplate the futures of Kim Min-jae and await Konrad Laimer’s response on a proposed extension, the capture of Tah stands as a reminder of how swiftly market dynamics can shift—and how a single late twist can alter the defensive landscape of two of the continent’s heavyweights.