Bayern Munich: Five unique things about Dayot Upamecano

Bayern Munich has officially signed defender Dayot Upamecano to a five-year contract. The 22-year-old will join Die Roten from RB Leipzig where has played since he was 17. Upamecano is one of the best up-and-coming center backs in the world and promises to be a key player for Bayern in the years to come. Here are five things to know about Bayern’s newest signing.

One of the most valuable center backs in the world

Upamecano’s value has been highly rated by Transfermarkt. They have him ranked as the most valuable center back in the Bundesliga and sixth in the world. His market value is currently at $66 million. Overall, he’s among the top valued players by Transfermarkt that are under 23 and playing in the Bundesliga. Only Jadon Sancho, Erling Braut Haaland, and Alphonso Davies have higher market values than Upamecano in terms of players under 23. This speaks to the amount of talent and potential the young defender has.

Tremendous pace

Bayern will be gaining another defender with plenty of speed. Upamecano has registered the fifth-fastest speed in the Bundesliga this season at 35.43 km/h. Die Roten currently has three players ranked in the top 10 of this statistical category. Davies is the player who has recorded the fastest speed and now Bayern will have the two of the quickest defenders in the league on the same backline.

Aerial dominance

The center back is among the best in the Bundesliga when it comes to winning aerial challenges. Upamecano ranked second in the German top-flight during the 2018/19 campaign when it came to the percentage of aerial duels won. Currently, he ranks among the top 20 in the Bundesliga for aerials won. This will certainly help Bayern when defending on set pieces and crosses into the penalty area.

Rarely wasteful in possession

When it comes to passing, Upamecano is rarely wasteful in possession. He currently is ranked 10th in the Bundesliga in successful passes from open play. Last season he finished with an 89.1% pass completion percentage, which was the fourth-highest percentage on Leipzig’s squad.

The 22-year-old has also shown to be very good at getting the ball into the final third of the pitch. He finished ranked fifth in the Bundesliga during the 2019/20 campaign in passes into the final third. Upamecano is among the top 10 in this category for the 2020/21 season as he currently ranks ninth.

A rising French international

Upamecano has recently been called up to the French national team for UEFA Nations League fixtures. He appeared in matches against Sweden and Croatia along with a friendly appearance against Ukraine. In the Croatia match, Upamecano scored his first senior-level goal for France. He was not apart of the squad for the November Nations League fixtures but it will be interesting to see if he is among those selected for the upcoming Euro 2021 tournament.

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By joining Bayern, Upamecano will be playing alongside multiple members of France’s National Team. Current Bayern players Kingsley Coman, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, and Corentin Tolisso have all represented France in recent international breaks. The addition of the center back ensures Bayern continues to have a strong representation from the reigning FIFA World Cup champions.