Joao Palhinha has signed permanently with Bayern Munich from Fulham for £60 million. The 28-year-old Portuguese midfielder is set to begin another career path, leaving the Premier League for Bundesliga football.
Following his great displays for Fulham, where he was an important player, Palhinha will look now to test himself in the German top-flight.
Of course, the Portuguese was expected to make the next big move in his career after some strong showings in the Premier League. The defensive midfielder made a name for himself at Fulham, solely based on stern defensive skills, clearing their ranks with calmness, and great ball-winning ability.
He could dictate play right from the middle of the park. His performances did not only seal a comfortable mid-table finish for Fulham but also earned him a lot of praise from fans and pundits.
Speaking after joining the Bundesliga outfit, the 29-year-old admitted to the thrill of joining the European giants and reiterated his readiness to get on with his game at the club.
“It’s a dream come true for me, and I’m very proud of that”, he said.
“I’m looking forward to the atmosphere and the fans at Allianz Arena. I want to win titles. I will give everything to achieve that”.
“This is one of the happiest days of my life.”
Paulinha is the second top Premier League player to join the Bundesliga outfit after the club signed Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.
Who Is Joao Palhinha?
João Maria Lobo Alves Palhinha Gonçalves, born 9 July 1995, is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Credited for his defensive capabilities and leadership attributes, Palhinha has represented the Portugal under different youth levels before becoming regular in the senior national team. His career began in the Portuguese leagues before making a real statement in the Premier League with Fulham.
Joao Palhinha Career
Joao Palhinha started his footballing career back in 2008 with Alta de Lisboa. After a while with Alta de Lisboa, he moved to Sacavenense. Later on, in 2012, the player would go on to join Sporting CP’s youth system, making it into the first team—the Sports CP B—in 2014.
Further experience came in the form of being loaned to Moreirense for the 2015-2016 season and subsequently to Belenenses in the 2016-2017 season. Returning to Sporting CP, Palhinha was an essential player; this followed a successful loan spell at Braga between 2018 and 2020. He contributed to Sporting CP’s domestic triumphs, including a Primeira Liga title.
In July 2022, Palhinha made a £17 million transfer to Premier League side Fulham. He was an absolute delight as he guided Fulham to ensure a middle table finish in the 2022-2023 season. His defensive capacity and midfield control have been enticing top European clubs.
Palhinha has made a £60 million move to Bayern Munich, which is a big career progression. His strong playing, pressure tackles, and leadership traits mean the rise from Alta de Lisboa to one of the top-tier European clubs is not replete with efforts that the player has put in with his skillful performance.
Joao Palhinha Stats
Now, Palhinha represents Sporting CP, and throughout his career, he has always demonstrated consistency in his performances. He played 68 games, scored 7 goals, and made one assist. He also boasts an equally impressive defensive stat, with an average of 4.44 tackles per game to complement a pass completion rate of 83.4%. This begat him a high-profile move to Bayern Munich after some eye-catching performances were taken note of by different top European clubs.
João Palhinha Bayern Munich Contract
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the detailed terms of Palhinha’s contract with Bayern Munich indicate £60 million as the transfer fee, while the contract will run till 2028. Palhinha’s induction into Bayern Munich is touted to strengthen their midfield options as they seek to continue their success in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League.
How many yellow cards has João Palhinha received?
In his career, Palhinha has made a reputation for himself as a very committed player who has at times overspent on discipline. As recently as the end of last season, he had 96 yellow cards throughout his professional career. Though, he got 27 yellow cards with Fulham in the Premier League but has unbelievably never been sent off in his 349 career games.
How many tackles does Joao Palhinha average per game?
Palhinha has made a name for himself in terms of his tackling ability. He is really talented at it, too; it’s one of the key parts of his game defensively. He made an average of 4.6 tackles per game across the campaign last season.
