Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of Germany Under-21 international Sebastian Rode from Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer.
Rode, 23, has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Allianz Arena and will officially join the club on 1 July 2014.
“I’m delighted the transfer has gone through,” Rode told the club’s official website, fcbayern.de.
“FC Bayern is the next big step for me. I want to continue developing as a player in Munich and win lots of trophies with my future team-mates.”
Bayern director of sport Matthias Sammer added: “Sebastian Rode is an excellent professional, embodying the highest levels of professionalism and dynamism.
“I’m certain he’ll bring momentum and flair to our team as we tackle our future challenges.”
The 23-year-old is most comfortable plying his trade in central midfield but has also featured on each flank for Eintracht this term.
Rode, valued at around €9 million, has a pass accuracy of 84.3 percent in 17 Bundesliga appearances in 2013/14.
Kovacic happy at Internazionale
Reported Arsenal and Manchester United target Mateo Kovacic has played down speculation linking him with a summer move to the English Premier League, insisting he is happy at Internazionale.
The Croatia international, who joined the Nerazzurri from Prva HNL giants Dinamo Zagreb in a deal worth up to €15 million in January 2013, has fallen out-of-favour with manager Walter Mazzarri in recent times.
The 19-year-old ace, whose current deal at the San Siro is set to expire in the summer of 2017, has started just three Serie A matches in 2014 but has been Mazzarri’s most-used substitute this term.
Reports have suggested Kovacic is looking to leave Inter when the transfer window re-opens this summer but the midfield maestro has made it clear he is more than happy to stay in Italy.
“The press have to write something. I may be young but I have learned so far that journalists must speculate on something every day,” Kovacic told Sportske Novosti, per Sky Sports.
“But all that is not a burden for me. I have a contract until 2017 and my future is with Inter. I’m really happy that I’m part of such a great club.
“So all I’m thinking right now is how to become better player, how to help my team to get much better results.
“I’m young, so I have a lot of time. And I’m still adapting…
“But I’m happy and also everybody at Inter are happy with me. And that counts the most to me.”
With Esteban Cambiasso expected to leave Milan for Major League Soccer in the summer, Kovacic could regain his starting place sooner rather than later, especially if he turns in a few good performances at this summer’s World Cup finals.
Croatia are best-priced at 250/1 to win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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