Lahm, Muller sign new deals at Bayern

Posted Thursday, June 12, 2014 by Foxsports.com

Germany duo Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller have penned new long-term contracts with their club Bayern Munich just days before the start of the World Cup.

Club captain Lahm has committed himself to a new four-year contract with Muller, a reported target of Manchester United, signing a new five-year deal.

Both players came through the club's youth system and, with the exception of a two-year loan spell with Stuttgart in the case of Lahm, have spent their whole careers with Bayern.

"Both Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller are very important elements of Bayern Munich," said the club's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"Both have remained faithful to this club right from the very start of their careers and they are also going to play an important role here in the future."

"We are very happy that both have decided to commit their long-term futures to Bayern Munich."

"Now I hope that Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller have a successful World Cup and I keep my fingers crossed for them and the Germany national team on the way to the title."

Lahm has been a mainstay in the Bayern team ever since returning from that two-year loan spell with Stuttgart 11 years ago. He has played a total of 313 Bundesliga matches and featured 85 times in the Champions League.

He says he will retire at the end of his new deal.

"It was the right time to discuss an extension," said the 30-year-old. "This is definitely my last contract and I will end my career at Bayern Munich."

"That was always my wish and I'm delighted it has happened."

Muller, the top goalscorer at the last World Cup four years ago, when he was also named the best young player, also plans to spend his career with the Bavarian club.

"I'm delighted to have extended my contract until 2019 so close to the start of the World Cup," he said.

"The club convinced me that I'm in the right place and I have the feeling that I'm an important component in the club's plans."

"Bayern have been my club since 2000 and they will remain so for years to come."