Official: Jann-Fiete Arp will join Bayern Munich

In a somewhat shocking turn of events that has occurred over the last 24 hours, Jann-Fiete Arp will join Bayern Munich from Hamburger SV in a flexible transfer arrangement. Arp had been linked to Bayern last spring and summer and was also allegedly on the radar of Chelsea in recent months.

Arp will be able to join Bayern as early as this summer or as late as July of 2020 per FCBayern.com:

Youth international Fiete Arp, currently still under contract at Hamburger SV, will join Bayern Munich no later than 2020. This is what Arp, Bayern and HSV have agreed. The agreement includes flexible transfer periods: The 19-year-old striker can move to Munich as early as the summer of 2019 or wait until the 2020/21 season. The decision as to when he will leave the Hamburger SV is only that of Fiete Arp.

Hamburger SV also made a formal announcement on its official Twitter account:

Arp may not be in any rush to join Bayern as Robert Lewandowski will manning the striker position until at least 2021 when his contract expires. Arp does have some experience playing as a wing, which could be of value to Bayern next season when Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are expected to leave, but he is a pure striker first and foremost.

Regardless, Arp is now poised to be the successor to Lewandowski after the Polish international’s career with Bayern is over.