FC Bayern Munich begins pre-season fitness tests under coach Vincent Kompany

Munich – The double winners are back in action. Just 58 days after their 3-0 DFB-Pokal final victory over Stuttgart, and one day after the World Cup final, FC Bayern kicked off preparations for the new season on Monday morning. The first order of business: fitness tests at the Barmherzige Brüder hospital in Munich's Nymphenburg district. BILD presents exclusive photos.

Early Arrivals at the Clinic

Substitute goalkeeper Sven Ulreich (37) was the first player to arrive, pulling into the clinic's underground garage at 7:43 a.m. The veteran keeper, who recently extended his contract alongside captain Manuel Neuer (40) through summer 2027, reported to the equipment managers before undergoing examinations by team internist Prof. Dr. Roland Schmidt. From 8 a.m., players were thoroughly assessed in pairs, including lung function tests and stress ECGs.

Photo: Verhoff

Ulreich's test partner arrived at 7:54 a.m.: Arijon Ibrahimovic (20). The offensive all-rounder has returned from his loan spell at Heidenheim and is firmly in coach Vincent Kompany's (40) plans for the upcoming season.

Photo: Robert Gongoll

Karl and Bischof Join the Tests

With all of FC Bayern's World Cup participants still on vacation, few first-team players reported for the fitness tests. Besides Ulreich and Ibrahimovic, only Tom Bischof (21) arrived at 8:35 a.m., accompanied by his test partner and friend Lennart Karl (18). Karl is currently in rehabilitation alongside Serge Gnabry (31), who suffered a torn adductor in his right thigh, after sustaining a muscle bundle tear in his left front thigh during World Cup preparation.

Photo: Robert Gongoll

Loan Returnees Report for Duty

Three loan returnees – whom the club would have preferred to sell – also reported for testing:

• João Palhinha (31) – last at Tottenham
• Sacha Boey (25) – last at Galatasaray Istanbul
• Bryan Zaragoza (24) – last at AS Roma

Next Steps in Pre-Season

Following the first round of tests at the hospital, the second phase will take place at the Bayern training grounds on Säbener Strasse, including body measurements and lactate tests. On Tuesday afternoon, the few available professionals will take to the training pitch for the first time.

The first test match is already scheduled for July 25 against third-division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden (3:30 p.m.).

Return Plan for World Cup Participants

From July 27 to 30, the squad will hold a training camp at Lake Tegernsee, featuring three public training sessions (July 27, 28, and 29, each at 3:30 p.m. at Birkenmoos Stadium) and a friendly against district league club FC Rottach-Egern (July 30).

On July 27 and 28, the following players will complete their fitness tests before traveling to Lake Tegernsee:

• DFB stars: Neuer, his substitute Jonas Urbig (22), Joshua Kimmich (31), Jonathan Tah (30), Aleksandar Pavlovic (22)
• New signing Nathaniel Brown (23) – arrived for €50 million from Frankfurt
• Hiroki Ito (28/Japan) and Minjae Kim (29/South Korea)

Before the Asia tour to South Korea and Hong Kong (August 1 to 8), Konrad Laimer (29/Austria), Josip Stanisic (26/Croatia), and Luis Díaz (29/Colombia) will also join the team.

Only after the marketing tour will the superstars return:

• Harry Kane (32/England)
• Michael Olise (24) and Dayot Upamecano (27) – both France
• Alphonso Davies (25/Canada)
• New signing Ismael Saibari (25) – for around €50 million from Eindhoven
• Jamal Musiala (23) – who had a metal plate removed from his left foot after a shin and fibula fracture with ankle injury (July 2025)
• Lennart Karl