Atalanta close to signing Bayern Munich II defender Ljubo Puljic

Atalanta are closing in on the signing of Croatian youth international Ljubo Puljic from FC Bayern Munich II, according to sources close to the negotiations. The Serie A club has agreed to a four-year contract with the 18-year-old centre-back, which also includes an option to extend for a further season.

Deal details

The transfer, expected to be finalized in the coming days, will see Puljic move to Bergamo after spending his formative years in the Bayern Munich academy. The Bavarian club's reserve team, FC Bayern II, competes in the Regionalliga Bayern, the fourth tier of German football. Puljic, a Croatia Under-19 international, has been a regular for the youth sides and has also featured for the senior reserve team.

Player profile

Puljic, born in 2005, is regarded as a promising defensive talent. He joined Bayern Munich's youth setup in 2021 from Croatian club NK Osijek. Standing at 1.88 meters, he is known for his physical presence and composure on the ball. Atalanta, known for developing young players, see him as a long-term investment for their defensive line.

Atalanta's youth strategy

The move aligns with Atalanta's strategy of acquiring young prospects from top European academies. The club has a track record of integrating youth talent into their first team, with players like Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri emerging from their system. Puljic is expected to initially join the Primavera (Under-19) squad before potentially breaking into the senior team.

The deal is subject to a medical examination and final paperwork. Neither club has officially commented on the transfer.