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Football Roundup: Bayern sign Rodriguez on loan; Solanke completes Liverpool move

July 11, 2017

IMAGE:  James Rodriguez celebrates. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images.

Bayern Munich have signed midfielder James Rodriguez from Real Madrid on a two-year loan deal with an option to buy the player, the German champions said on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Colombia international made 22 La Liga appearances for Real last season, scoring eight goals, and featured six times in the UEFA Champions League.

"We are very happy to have completed this transfer," Bayern Executive Board Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement. "Signing James Rodriguez was the big wish of our coach Carlo (Ancelotti) after they worked successfully together in Madrid."

Rodriguez moved to Real Madrid from Monaco for a reported 60 million euros ($68.4 million) in 2014 after winning the Golden Boot as the leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup. He was also named in the team of the tournament as Colombia reached the quarter-finals.

His ability to score spectacular goals made him an ideal addition to Real's "Galacticos" project, but he struggled to nail down a regular starting place at the Bernabeu.

Real confirmed that Bayern could make the move permanent at the end of the loan period.

"Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have agreed to the transfer of player James Rodriguez for the next two seasons, pending a medical examination," the Spanish club said on its website.

"Bayern Munich reserves the right to purchase the player at the end of the transfer period."

Rodriguez will join up with Bayern's squad immediately and is expected to travel with the team for their 12-day pre-season tour in China and Singapore.

The Colombian is the German club's sixth signing of the close season, following the arrivals of wingers Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman, midfielders Corentin Tolisso and Sebastian Rudy, and centre back Niklas Suele.

Striker Solanke completes Liverpool move

England youth international striker Dominic Solanke has completed his move to Premier League side Liverpool after his contract with champions Chelsea expired, the Merseyside club have said.

The 19-year-old, who was a part of Chelsea's youth academy since 2004, scored four goals during England's under-20 World Cup triumph in June and was named Player of the Tournament.

Solanke made just one senior appearance for Chelsea in 2014 and was loaned out to Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for the 2015-16 campaign.

Liverpool did not specify the length of Solanke's contract or the fee for the teenager.

"It feels amazing and everyone has made me feel welcome already," Solanke told the club's website.

"Even just pulling on the training top, I was over the moon. Hopefully I can put on the shirt in the near future and make some good history here."

Source: REUTERS
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