Joao Cancelo joins Bayern Munich on loan until end of the season

Portuguese defender seals surprise move after falling out of favour with Pep Guardiola

Joao Cancelo has joined Bayern Munich on loan until the end of the season, the club confirmed today. The deal includes an option for the German to side to make the deal permanent in the summer for £61.5m.

The Portuguese international, who joined City from Juventus in 2019, has fallen out of favour with Pep Guardiola in recent weeks but his departure still comes as something of a shock.

The Blues are already short of options at full-back, with Kyle Walker now the only recognised senior player in the squad in that position, although Rico Lewis has excelled when called upon.

Nathan Ake has deputised well at left-back in recent weeks, but Spanish youngster Sergio Gomez has endured a difficult first season in England. Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, meanwhile, has been loaned to Coventry for the rest of the season.

A somewhat terse statement on the club website read:

"Joao Cancelo has joined Bayern Munich on loan until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old joined City from Juventus in 2019, following spells in Spain and his native Portugal.

The Portuguese has now moved to Germany to join the Bundesliga outfit for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign."