(Football news) Bayern Munich have signed veteran Netherlands left back Daley Blind on Thursday to cover for the injured Lucas Hernandez who suffered a gruesome injury in Qatar. Blind was a free agent after he parted ways with Ajax by mutual consent last week with six months left on his contract. He is set to join the Bundesliga champions Bayern on a short-term deal until the end of the season after completing a medical examination in Munich.

The 32-year-old Blind can play in multiple positions like in the centre of defence or at left-back, where he could provide the much needed cover for Hernandez, who is expected to miss the entire season after tearing a knee ligament in France’s opening 4-1 win over Australia at the World Cup. Blind has played for Manchester United from 2014-18, where he went on to win the FA Cup and the Europa League, as he also has won seven Dutch titles over two spells at Ajax. He has gone onto play 99 times for the Netherlands as he played all five of their games at the World Cup in Qatar. Bayern informed the media that Blind will fly with the team to their winter training camp in Doha, Qatar on Friday.

The Netherlands left-back who recently turned 32, agreed in December to cancel his contract with Ajax six months earlier than expected. Blind joined Ajax’s academy at age eight and played 333 times for the Dutch club during two spells in Amsterdam. Blind travelled to Germany on Thursday before undergoing a very detailed medical with Bayern. He has an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a device which is similar to a pacemaker, after being diagnosed in December 2019 with a rare heart condition. But that proved no obstacle to him signing as Blind is now set to feature in Julian Nagelsmann’s side to chase domestic and European honours.

“We’re delighted that Daley is joining our team,” Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said. “Daley is a versatile defender. He has great international experience and leadership qualities. I’m sure he’ll help us.”

“I can hardly wait to play here,” Blind told the Bayern website. “We’ve got the most important part of the season coming up, where it’s about titles — and a club like Bayern can win every trophy. The hunger for titles here at the club was key in my decision.”

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