Servus and bem-vindo, Raphaël Guerreiro! The 2016 Euro winner is joining the German record champions ahead of the forthcoming season on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund. The 29-year-old has agreed a contract in Munich through to 30 June 2026. fcbayern.com introduces you to the versatile Portuguese in a bit more detail.
The Portugal international is comfortable both in defence and central midfield, excelling as a provider.
Versatile crossing specialist
Bayern are getting a real utility man in Raphaël Guerreiro. Although the Portuguese’s preferred position is at left-back, he’s also perfectly comfortable in midfield. As well as his versatility, the 29-year-old is characterised in particular by his speed, brilliant ball control and his intelligence. In the past, the two-time DFB Cup winner has also excelled many times as a set-piece specialist and assist provider. In the last Bundesliga season, Guerreiro registered the most assists with 12, ahead of Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani (11) and Bayern attacker Jamal Musiala (10).
Guerreiro played 111 times for FC Lorient between 2013 and 2016, scoring 10 goals.
From Le Blanc-Mesnil to Ligue 1
Guerreiro, whose father is Portuguese and mother is French, was born and bred in Le-Blanc-Mesnil, north-east of Paris. “Rapha”, who possesses both Portuguese and French citizenship, started playing at the age of five at local club Blanc-Mesnil SF before joining the INF Clairefontaine, the French football association’s national academy, aged 11. Three years later, the 1.70-metre Portuguese moved to the SM Caen academy. From 2010, Guerreiro, whose tireless battling qualities have earned him the nickname “Battery”, was a regular in the Normandy club’s reserve team, where he got his first taste of men’s football at an early age. Then came the switch to FC Lorient ahead of the 2013/14 season, for whom he made his debut in the French top flight at the age of 19. The wide man made a total of 111 appearances for Les Merlus (the Hakes) over three seasons, scoring 10 goals.
Guerreiro lifted the DFB Cup twice with BVB at Berlin's Olympiastadion, in 2017 and then four years later.
Seven successful years with Borussia Dortmund
In summer 2016, he ventured abroad and signed for Borussia Dortmund. The Portugal international celebrated two DFB Cup triumphs with the Black and Yellows (2016/17, 2020/21) as well as victory in the 2019/20 DFL-Supercup. In 224 competitive appearances for BVB, the nimble technician scored 40 goals and set up even more. After seven years in the Ruhr district, Guerreiro is now moving to the Bavarian capital, where he’ll be reunited with Thomas Tuchel, with whom he already worked together successfully at Dortmund.
Important figure for Portugal
Guerreiro first represented Portugal at U21 level in 2013, before making his senior debut in November of the following year. Since then, the 29-year-old has been a regular in the Seleção squad and featured in two World Cups and two European Championships. Guerreiro enjoyed his greatest international success to date in 2016, when Portugal won the Euro in France. The full-back, who was later named in the Team of the Tournament, started in five out of seven matches, including the final against France, and therefore played a key role in his country's first major title. In 2019, the 64-time-capped international also lifted the trophy in the inaugural UEFA Nations League.
The full story on the signing of Raphaël Guerreiro:
Topics of this article