Thomas Mueller to Leave Bayern Munich After 25 Years, Club Confirms No New Contract

Bayern Munich icon Thomas Mueller will bid farewell to the club at the end of the season after a remarkable 25-year tenure, the player confirmed on Saturday. The 35-year-old midfielder revealed via social media that Bayern had opted not to renew his expiring contract, marking the end of an era for the Bundesliga giants.

“This is not what I would have wished,” Mueller wrote, acknowledging the club’s decision while expressing gratitude for the support he received throughout the saga. “The special connection to the club and our fantastic fans will always remain.”

Mueller joined Bayern’s youth system at age 10 and went on to carve out one of the most storied careers in German football history. Since making his senior debut in 2008 under then-coach Jurgen Klinsmann, Mueller has gone on to become the club’s all-time appearance leader with 743 games across all competitions, scoring 247 goals and registering 273 assists.

A one-club man, Mueller’s glittering career includes two UEFA Champions League titles and 12 Bundesliga championships. Club president Herbert Hainer praised him as the embodiment of a “Bavarian fairytale career,” noting that he would be honored with a testimonial match and take part in the Club World Cup in July.

Mueller, born in Weilheim, Bavaria, said his immediate focus remains on helping Bayern reclaim the Bundesliga title and reach the Champions League final, which is set to be played at the club’s own Allianz Arena. Bayern currently lead the domestic league, though Bayer Leverkusen have a game in hand. The club also faces Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the first leg scheduled for Tuesday in Munich.

The veteran midfielder has increasingly found himself on the bench in recent seasons, sparking speculation over his future. While Mueller has yet to disclose his next destination, German media has linked him with a potential move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. Former teammate Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, now with the New York Red Bulls, welcomed the idea. “Thomas, you already speak English… I’m watching you,” Choupo-Moting joked earlier this year.

A 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, Mueller retired from international duty after Euro 2024. He scored 45 goals in 131 appearances for the national team over a 14-year span.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl called the decision to part ways “anything but easy,” stating that the club is now turning its focus toward future squad development.

With Jamal Musiala suffering an injury in Friday’s 3-1 win over Augsburg, Mueller could be set for a rare starting role in Tuesday’s high-stakes clash with Inter Milan — a fitting stage for one of Bayern’s greatest ever players.