Leon Goretzka receives the Thomas Müller treatment ahead of Bayern Munich exit

Bayern Munich's German midfielder #08 Leon Goretzka claps his hands as he walks on the field during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Cologne in Munich, southern Germany, on May 16, 2026. (Photo by Alexandra BEIER / AFP via Getty Images) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO | AFP via Getty Images Bayern Munich is letting go of a few players this season, but none of them are as important to the club as Leon Goretzka. The central midfielder arrived in 2018 from Schalke, and quickly made a name for himself.

Within two years, he won the sextuple with Bayern. Goretzka was a fan favorite, he had the skills, the charm and the physicality. Having become the starting midfielder of choice alongside Joshua Kimmich, he was one of the most important players post-2020.

Over the past five years, however, things were not smooth. the German international ran into his fair share of injuries — from persistent knee issues requiring surgery to multiple muscular injuries, often seeing him sidelined. This alongside his inconsistent performances, raised questions on how long he’d stay at Bayern before bidding the club farewell.

Additionally, younger players like Aleksander Pavlovic and Tom Bischof found themselves higher in the pecking order. A joint decision by the board to no longer extend Goretzka was made and hence, the 31-year-old now finds himself in search of a new club. However, the fans did their part.