Girona have officially announced the signing of former Bayern Munich veteran defender Daley Blind.
According to reports, the former Manchester United star has joined the Catalan team, Girona, on a free transfer.
Girona had a highly successful first season in La Liga, and now they are focused on maintaining their upward momentum for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign.
Under the leadership of head coach Michel Sanchez, the Catalan side secured a 10th-place finish last season, narrowly falling short of qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Undoubtedly, their objective for the upcoming season will be to secure a spot in the tournament.
However, after securing Paulo Gazzaniga permanently, Girona have now finalized a deal with Bayern Munich for Daley Blind in the quest to bolster their defense.
Meanwhile, Blind has been without a team since departing from the German champions after the previous season.
During the midseason, Bayern Munich sought to strengthen their backline and decided to acquire the 33-year-old experienced Dutch player, Daley Blind.
Blind’s playing time for the Bavarians was limited, but he successfully fulfilled the role he was brought in for as he provided additional support to an already talented roster.
During his tenure at Bayern Munich, Blind made appearances in four Bundesliga games and one DFB-Pokal match.
In total, Blind spent 157 minutes on the field with the Bavarians, a duration that may have been influenced by the recent coaching change.
When Julian Nagelsmann was unexpectedly sacked in March, Bayern Munich’s plans for Blind appeared to be abandoned as well.
Under the management of Thomas Tuchel, Blind’s already limited role became even more restricted.
However, the 33-year-old defender will now move to Girona FC where he will have a more significant role compared to his previous team.
Daley Blind has penned a two-year contract with Girona to solidify their defense and contribute towards scoring goals in the upcoming season.
The 33-year-old, who happens to be the son of Danny Blind, a former Ajax defender and former manager of the Netherlands national team, has the potential to improve his performance if he wishes to secure more playing time.
Who is Daley Blind?
Daley Blind is a talented Dutch professional footballer.
He is known for his versatility on the field, as he can play as a defensive midfielder, left-back, or center-back.
He recently joined the La Liga club Girona and represents the Netherlands national team.
Daley Blind’s club career
Blind rose through the youth ranks at Ajax and eventually became a regular player after a loan spell at Groningen.
He achieved great success with the club, winning four consecutive Eredivisie titles.
He joined Manchester United in September 2014 for a transfer fee worth £13.8 million.
During his time there, he played a crucial role in the team’s success, helping them win four trophies, which included the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and UEFA Europa League.
Blind made a comeback to Ajax in the summer of 2018. During his first season back at the club, he achieved his fifth Eredivisie title and won the KNVB Cup for the first time.
On 5 January 2023, Blind joined Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on a contract until the end of the season
His international career
Blind has been a full international footballer since 2013 and has earned over 100 caps for his country.
He was also a member of the Dutch squad that achieved a third-place finish at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He has participated in both UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
