Tah confirms he will not be extending his contract with Leverkusen

Jonathan Tah has emphasized that he’s looking to leave Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Jonathan Tah wanted to leave Bayer Leverkusen to join Bayern Munich in the summer, but the transfer ultimately collapsed because the two clubs couldn’t come to an agreement.

It’s since been reported that Tah is determined to leave Leverkusen on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season, and he has now confirmed that plan in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung.

“My decision is just as clear as it was before. I will not be extending my contract (…) I still have a contract until 2025, and until then I will give everything for Leverkusen,” Tah emphasized.

After nine years at Leverkusen, the central defender is simply keen to try something else.

“I didn’t want to leave Leverkusen because I don’t feel comfortable there. Quite the opposite. The love I feel for this club will never go away,” underlined Tah.

“A football career is short, and that’s why it’s always been my idea to get everything out of it that’s possible, to take all the experience with me. And in the summer I just had the feeling that it was time to look at something new – right after our extremely successful last season.”

Although he didn’t get the move he wanted in the summer, Tah doesn’t hold a grudge against his club.

“I’m certainly not going to point the finger at this club, to whom I owe so much. I also really appreciate the fact that they’ve now changed their minds, that it’s obviously important to them that I stay for sporting and human reasons. That’s a nice feeling too.”