Bayern Munich sporting director explains decision to sign Morocco star Ismail Saibari

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has explained the club’s decision to sign Moroccan international Ismail Saibari from PSV Eindhoven, describing the versatile attacker as a player who perfectly fits the direction of the German champions.

The German giants completed the signing of Saibari in a deal reportedly worth between €50 million and €55 million, bringing to Munich one of the standout performers of Morocco’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

The transfer represents a significant investment from the Bundesliga giants, but Eberl believes Saibari’s technical qualities, physical strength and ability to operate in several positions make him a valuable addition to Vincent Kompany’s squad.

“Thanks to his style, physical strength, strong presence, speed and versatility, he caused us some trouble during those matches against PSV Eindhoven, and yet we managed to win. He has exceptional talent,” Eberl said.

“The Saibari deal demonstrates our desire to focus on flexibility and to rely on players capable of occupying multiple positions and adding new dimensions to our style, which were not as available last season,” the sporting director explained.

The Moroccan international is capable of operating in several attacking and midfield positions, allowing Kompany to deploy him in different roles depending on the demands of a particular match.

That flexibility could prove particularly useful for Bayern over the course of a long season, with the club competing domestically and on the European stage.

Eberl believes Saibari can therefore provide more than just another attacking option.

His ability to move between positions, combine with teammates and contribute both physically and technically is expected to give Kompany greater freedom when building his line-ups.

The Bayern sporting director also pointed to Saibari’s physical qualities as an important part of his appeal.

The Moroccan possesses the strength and speed required to compete at the highest level, while his technical ability allows him to operate effectively in possession.

These qualities were particularly evident during his time at PSV, where he developed into an important player before attracting the attention of Bayern and other major European clubs.

His performances for Morocco further strengthened his reputation, with Saibari emerging as one of the players to watch during the 2026 World Cup.

“That’s why it was clear that Ismail Saibari was the perfect choice for us, and thank God the deal was completed successfully,” Eberl concluded.

Saibari now faces the challenge of translating his impressive performances in the Netherlands and with Morocco to the Bundesliga, where he will be competing for places in one of Europe’s most demanding squads.

For Bayern, however, the signing is about more than adding another talented player.

The club see Saibari as part of a broader strategy to build a more flexible and dynamic squad capable of adapting to different opponents and tactical situations.

With Kompany looking to establish a high-intensity style based on movement, aggression and attacking football, Bayern believe Saibari possesses many of the characteristics needed to thrive in the system.

The Moroccan’s versatility could ultimately become one of his biggest strengths at the Allianz Arena, giving the coach another player capable of changing the dynamics of a match.

After completing the €50m-plus investment, Bayern will now hope Saibari can justify Eberl’s faith and develop into an important figure in the club’s pursuit of domestic and European honours.