João Palhinha: Bayern Munich’s New Defensive Dynamo?

One of the biggest deals of the summer so far was announced during the EUROs, as Bayern Munich agreed a deal to sign Fulham’s João Palhinha for a club-record fee for the Premier League side. 

The defensive midfielder is likely to enhance the options in the middle of the park for Vincent Kompany’s new look Bayern side this term, and he brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, at both club and national team levels.

But, how good is the new Bayern midfielder, and what could a team with him look like for the upcoming season in the Bundesliga?

Name	João Palhinha
Date of Birth	9 July 1995 (29 y/o)
Position	Defensive midfielder
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Current Club	Bayern Munich
Former Clubs	Sporting CP,  Belenenses, Braga, Fulham
Transfer Value	€55M
National Team	Portugal, 31 caps

Palhinha’s Journey To The Top

Despite being 29, it could be argued that Palhinha’s game is now as all-rounded as it has ever been. The Portuguese international has needed to remain incredibly patient for his big-money move. He came through the Sporting Lisbon youth setup and made his debut for the Lisbon-based team in 2014. 

However, it would be during loan spells at Moreirense and Braga where he would perfect his game, making 76 appearances for the latter to help them to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga in 2019-20. During that season, he netted the winning goal for Braga in a first win over Benfica in 65 years.

Following the loan spells, he would play an enhanced role when returning to Sporting Lisbon in 2020, despite being close to a move away from the club. He played 32 times during the 2020-21 season, as Sporting ended the campaign as champions. However, his game time would be restricted in the following season after the arrival of Manuel Ugarte.

Breakthrough At Fulham

Palhinha’s big breakthrough on the global stage arrived in July 2022 after he signed for Fulham in a £20 million deal. 

His impact at the club was immediate after playing a starring role in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool. He then netted a first goal of the season in a 3-2 success against Brentford. 

Such was his impact after arriving at the club that he was named Fulham’s Player of the Season in 2022-23 with 68% of the votes registered. Palhinha also led the league in terms of tackles won with 147.

 After facing competition to retain their star man following interest from Bayern Munich and Arsenal, Fulham announced that they wouldn’t be selling Palhinha after a €65 million move to Bavaria broke down. Once again, Palhinha was among the standout midfielders in the league, leading the competition for the most tackles won.

What He Brings To Bayern

Bayern Munich has had a long-standing interest in Palhinha since last summer, but they finally announced that they had got their man earlier this month. The defensive midfielder is firmly focused on winning trophies, and he will likely play an important role in this new-look Bayern side under Kompany.

The defensive midfield position has been a problem area for Bayern over the last couple of seasons, with Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic both appearing in that role last term. 

However, neither have the qualities possessed by Palhinha when it comes to tackles won. His arrival will not only have a huge impact on Bayern’s ability to win the ball back, but it will also help to give their attacking players the best chance of delivering big moments in the final third.

Where Will He Fit In?

Kimmich’s return to right-back means that Palhinha will slot effortlessly into the defensive midfield position in the Bayern side. Kompany is likely to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation this season, with Kane playing in front of an exciting three of Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise, and Leroy Sane.

Pavlovic could be preferred to play alongside Palhinha under Kompany, as the former Man City man will look to give younger players a chance to showcase their ability for the Bavarian giants. However, Konrad Laimer or Leon Goretzka could be preferred in that role for the more high-profile matches on the schedule. 

Regardless, Palhinha will be expected to hit the ground running when the season gets underway, as Bayern can ill-afford a slow start to the campaign in their hunt to regain their Bundesliga title.