MUNICH — Bayern Munich has secured the signing of promising German midfielder Tom Bischof from Bundesliga competitor Hoffenheim for the upcoming season.

The 19-year-old player will be joining Bayern on a free transfer, and his contract will run until June 2029, as announced by the club on Tuesday.

Bischof’s current contract with Hoffenheim will come to an end at the conclusion of this season. He made history as the youngest player to ever represent the club in the Bundesliga, debuting at the age of 16 years and 263 days in March 2022.

Following that debut, he went on to make a total of 41 appearances in Germany’s top league, where he quickly became a key player for Hoffenheim. However, the club was unable to finalize an agreement to extend his contract amidst interest from Bayern, RB Leipzig, and Eintracht Frankfurt.

“It is well-known that we wanted to keep Tom at the club beyond June 30,” stated Andreas Schicker, Hoffenheim’s sporting director. “We exhausted all options in our efforts to persuade him to remain in the club during the final year of his contract and demonstrate the opportunities available. Nonetheless, Tom’s swift development on the field has caught the attention of several prestigious clubs.”

At Bayern, Bischof will aim to secure a spot in the midfield lineup, especially with Leon Goretzka’s anticipated departure at the end of the season. Goretzka struggled for playing time last season but demonstrated his talent with two goals last weekend, though he is still expected to part ways with the club.

“Bischof is among the most significant talents in Germany,” remarked Christoph Freund, Bayern’s sporting director.

Additionally, Bischof has represented Germany’s national youth teams, from under-16s to under-20s. He earned the Fritz Walter Medal last year, awarded to the country’s top under-19 player.