Kane’s next step: Bayern stability or Barcelona opportunity?

November 27, 2025 Oliver Obel

When Bayern Munich spent around €100 million to sign Kane in 2023, it was viewed in Germany as an unusually aggressive move for the club.

Reporting at the time from Bild captured the scepticism including comments from Lothar Matthäus, who argued the deal arrived “too late and too expensive” for a player entering his thirties.

Those concerns have evaporated. Bayern have opened the season unbeaten in both the Bundesliga and Champions League, and Kane has produced 24 goals in 18 matches.

Matthäus has since reversed his view, saying he does not “see a better striker in the world,” a sentiment echoed across German analysis shows in recent weeks.

Kane’s form has naturally placed him back on recruitment boards elsewhere in Europe, including at Barcelona.

Barcelona look ahead

Barcelona’s interest is rooted less in Kane’s availability and more in their long-term planning. Robert Lewandowski, still scoring regularly in La Liga at 37, has missed stretches of time with muscle problems over the past year.

According to Spanish reporting, the club has yet to open talks on a renewal and is preparing for a transition phase in 2026.

Local outlets in both Spain and Germany have noted that club president Joan Laporta has examined the possibility of triggering a €65 million clause in Kane’s contract that becomes reachable next summer. The mechanism, according to Bild, requires Kane to inform Bayern of his intentions by late January.

Sources familiar with Bayern’s stance have suggested to German media that the club is calm about the situation, largely because Kane has shown no public desire to leave.

A smooth life in Munich

Kane has repeatedly underlined how comfortable his family feels in Germany. Earlier this year he said, “The way the people here welcomed us was extraordinary,” describing the move as surprisingly seamless for his wife and children. He has also indicated he is open to extending his contract beyond 2027.

He reiterated this sentiment again last week when asked by BILD, saying he feels “very comfortable in the current situation” and adding that there is “no rush” regarding future discussions.

Kane’s leverage

For Kane, the range of paths ahead is unusually broad for a 32-year-old striker. A return to England likely the only way to chase down Alan Shearer’s Premier League scoring record remains an option if he ever wishes to pursue it. Staying in Munich offers a slightly less physically demanding league, Champions League certainty and the stability Bayern typically provide for veteran forwards.

Barcelona’s attraction, however, still carries weight across the sport. Even in the midst of financial constraints and registration limits, the club remains one of the most coveted destinations for attacking players. Any genuine approach from Camp Nou would force consideration, especially if Lewandowski’s situation moves swiftly.

For now, though, Kane appears content. Bayern have a functioning, balanced squad, and the striker has more influence over his personal and professional trajectory than at any previous point in his career.

Whatever happens next will be on his terms.

Sources: BILD, Spanish local reporting, German football media.