Bayern Munich's 10 best signings of the decade (2010-2019)

#4 Javi Martinez (2012)

Bayern broke the Bundesliga's transfer record to sign Javi Martinez in 2012

When Bayern Munich paid €40m to meet Javi Martinez’s release clause to bring him from Athletic Bilbao to the Allianz Arena in the summer of 2012, they broke the Bundesliga’s transfer record in the process. Over 7 years on, it’d be hard to claim that the Spaniard hasn’t been worth it; Bayern won the Champions League in his first season at the club and have also claimed 7 Bundesliga titles in a row since his arrival too.

An incredibly versatile player, able to perform in practically any defensive role, the former Bilbao man was largely credited with preventing Barcelona’s trademark tiki-taka style from working during Bayern’s Champions League semi-final win over them in 2013.

It came as no surprise, then, that Martinez largely peaked in Bavaria under the reign of Pep Guardiola from 2013 to 2016, with his passing range and ability to play the ball out from the back marking him as the ideal man for the former Barca boss’s backline.

Only a handful of serious injuries have prevented him from completing more than his current 231 appearances at the Allianz – and as he’s still only 31, it’s likely that he’ll remain at the club for the foreseeable future.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Amar Anand