Created on 17-12-2014 at 12:40 PM
FC Bayern has agreed new deals with two squad players. Backup keeper Tom Starke has signed a one-year extension keeping him in Munich until summer 2016, and Gianluca Gaudino has inked his first professional contract. The 18-year-old has agreed terms until 2018 with Germany’s biggest club.
“Over the last two and a half years Tom has always delivered when called upon. He’s made an essential contribution to our overall performance, but also to the mood in the dressing room,” sporting director Matthias Sammer told fcbayern.de. Starke joined Bayern from TSG Hoffenheim in 2012 and has since made five Bundesliga appearances. In total, the 33-year-old has amassed 96 appearances in the league and 15 in the DFB Cup.
Gaudino joined the FCB youth section in 2004 and has featured at every junior level for the club. The 18-year-old has made three Bundesliga appearances to date, with one match each in Champions League and the domestic cup competition.
“Gianluca is our own youth product and a very good fit to FC Bayern,” commented Sammer, “he’s an extremely intelligent player.” The sporting director named another benefit arising from the midfielder’s promotion to the senior ranks: “It’s a positive signal to all the youth players at Bayern: if you perform, there’s always the chance of a professional contract with the club.”