Despite stable performances, Kane didn't win any major silverware during his time at Tottenham, and he has brought that bad luck all the way to Munich.
England captain Harry Kane has departed Tottenham Hotspur after 19 years at the club as he joined German giants Bayern Munich on Saturday. Bayern will pay an initial £100 million for the forward, with add-ons potentially taking the transfer up to an overall fee of £120 million, reports The Guardian.
Harry Kane to wear number 9 for Bayern
Last Friday, the 30-year-old embarked on a journey to Germany, where he underwent a medical examination. The Bundesliga champions, in an announcement on the subsequent Saturday, said that Kane had officially signed a contract that extends until June 2027. This accord also appoints him as the proud bearer of the coveted No. 9 jersey, which previously belonged to Robert Lewandowski.
According to The Sun, Kane's Bayern contract could be worth as much as £21.6 million a year which equates to £415,000 a week.
In a video posted on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, the 30-year-old star paid tribute to Spurs fans for their journey together:
'I wanted to be the first to tell you Tottenham fans that I’ll be leaving the club today … This is a thank you to all my teammates over the years, all my coaches, all the managers … and most importantly a thank you to you, the Tottenham fans … I’ve given everything that I possibly could to make you proud.'
Bayern’s CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said signing Kane had been a 'long process' since Robert Lewandowski left the club for Barcelona. His statement on the Bayern website read:
'He is a perfect fit for us and the club’s DNA in terms of both football and character. World-class centre forwards have always been an important factor when FC Bayern has celebrated its greatest triumphs, and we’re convinced that Harry Kane will continue this success story.'
Kane, however, left the door open for a return to boyhood club Tottenham, saying, 'It’s not a goodbye because you never know how things pan out in the future, but it’s a thank you and I’ll see you soon.'
A bittersweet journey with no trophy
A product of Tottenham's youth academy, Kane spent some loan seasons at minor clubs like Millwall, Norwich City, and Leicester City before permanently returning to Spurs in 2013. Fast forward to the present, and Kane stands as a prolific goal machine, boasting a staggering record of 280 goals in 435 appearances across all competitions. As per The Athletic, Kane now stands a mere 48 goals away from history as he inches closer to surpassing Alan Shearer's record as the highest scorer in Premier League history.
His goalscoring ability extends beyond club borders, with an impressive tally of 58 goals for the England national team within 84 appearances.
Kane's meteoric rise was punctuated by a remarkable feat of netting 30 Premier League goals in the last season, a shining light amid an underwhelming campaign for Spurs. As the curtain fell on the season, Tottenham found themselves occupying the eighth spot, a disappointing position that precluded them from European football and erased any hope of the first silverware since 2008.
Tottenham's chairman, Daniel Levy, offers insights into the club's efforts to retain Kane's services. In his statement, Levy reveals, 'We sought over a long period of time to engage Harry and his representatives in several forms of a contract extension.'
'Harry's achievements and records say everything about the player, and throughout his 19 years at the club, Harry has been a model professional, on and off the pitch and an inspiration for young players who dream of following in his footsteps.'
Speaking to Sky Sports, Levy added that Tottenham reluctantly let Kane go as he wanted 'a fresh challenge':
'Harry was clear, however, that he wanted a fresh challenge and would not be signing a new contract this summer. We have reluctantly, therefore, agreed to his transfer. I should like to thank Harry for everything he’s done for us, all the memories, all the records – we wish him and his family all the best for the future.'
Read more:
⋙ Harry Kane: England captain has 'chosen his next club', and it's not Manchester United
⋙ Harry Kane's salary revealed as speculations about his transfer grow
⋙ Tottenham's Harry Kane reportedly on Bayern Munich's target transfer list
