Georgia Stanway Confirms Departure from Bayern Munich After Successful Tenure

Rumors have circulated for some time regarding Georgia Stanway’s potential departure from Bayern Munich upon the conclusion of her current contract this summer. On Saturday, she confirmed these speculations ahead of the second half of the German season.

In her statement, Stanway expressed, “I am incredibly grateful to Bayern for the past years, and thankfully, my time here isn’t over yet. The decision to leave Munich and my team was incredibly difficult and definitely not easy for me. I’ve made friends and memories here that will last a lifetime, and I have also developed enormously as a player and a person. I will give everything for the club and its sporting success until my very last day, just as I have for the past three and a half years. I aim to bid farewell to the club and the fans at the end of the season with as many titles as possible.”

This announcement is a significant blow for Bayern, who recently lost star striker Lea Schuller to Manchester United. Stanway has been a pivotal player for the German giants since her arrival in Munich in 2022, contributing to the club’s impressive domestic success, including three consecutive Bundesliga titles, two Supercups, and the DFB Pokal. Her commitment to the club was underscored when she signed a new contract in late 2023. However, Bayern will now have to navigate their domestic competition and Champions League aspirations without the talented England midfielder, especially after her notable contribution in the previous seasons.

Bianca Rech, Bayern’s director of women’s football, remarked, “As the first English player at Bayern Women, Georgia Stanway not only made history but also stole our hearts. She matured into a top European player in Munich and played a key role in the club’s success in recent years with her commitment and character. We discussed her future openly, and when she expressed her desire to try something new, her reasons were entirely understandable. We thank her for the time we spent together and wish her all the best for the future. However, we still have a few months left, and we will strive to make them as successful as possible together.”

As for what lies ahead for Stanway, she has been permitted to engage in discussions with clubs abroad since the start of the New Year, given that she is entering the final six months of her contract. Reports suggest that she has been in talks with Arsenal, who currently lead the race for her signature.

Arsenal has a solid midfield lineup, yet several first-team players are set to become free agents this summer, potentially altering the composition of their squad significantly. Notably, Kim Little, a veteran midfielder and a cornerstone of Arsenal’s success, will celebrate her 36th birthday in June. Therefore, it makes sense for the club to reinforce the midfield for the long term to mitigate the impact of Little’s eventual retirement, despite her continued high-level performance.

There is also considerable interest in Stanway from other clubs, providing her ample time to contemplate her future.

In the meantime, Stanway is dedicated to concluding this chapter of her career positively. Bayern Munich has already secured the Supercup this season and is in a strong position to claim a fourth consecutive Bundesliga title, currently holding a six-point lead over Wolfsburg at the top of the table. As the competition is just past its halfway mark, the club is also in the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal, with a match against Hamburg scheduled for March, and they have reached the last eight of the Champions League, with a forthcoming clash against either Atletico Madrid or Manchester United for a spot in the semi-finals later this year.

Ending her tenure with a successful run in Europe would be a fitting conclusion for Stanway, particularly as Bayern has underperformed in this competition during her time at the club. A humbling 7-1 defeat against Barcelona in October highlighted the need for improvement, yet subsequent victories over Arsenal, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain ensured automatic qualification for the last eight, indicating that Bayern could pose a serious threat in the tournament before Stanway’s eventual departure.