One week before the start of the second half of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season, FC Bayern have made a further addition to their squad for the future. Defender Benjamin Pavard will join the record champions from league rivals VfB Stuttgart at the end of the current campaign, as announced on Wednesday by sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic at the winter training camp in Doha.

“We’ve signed Benjamin Pavard for 1 July 2019. He’s put pen to paper on a five-year contract. He’s a young player and a world champion. We’re very glad and proud to have gained such a player for FC Bayern,” Salihamidzic said.

Twenty-two-year-old Pavard can play in the centre of defence and at right-back. He completed six games in France’s FIFA World Cup triumph in the summer, and his stunning strike in the 4-3 win over Argentina was named the Goal of the Tournament. Pavard will join fellow world champion Corentin Tolisso in the FC Bayern squad.