Olise finished ninth in the 2026 Ballon d’Or voting, while Harry Kane claimed the award, giving Bayern two players inside the top 10. The 24-year-old has continued to flourish in Germany after being named Bundesliga Player of the Season last term.
Sporting director Max Eberl has now discussed the thinking behind the transfer, revealing how conversations with Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner helped Bayern assess the winger.
“In Michael’s case, we had the advantage that Oliver Glasner was his coach at Crystal Palace at the time – and our sporting director, Christoph Freund, knows Glasner very well.
“When a coach says, ‘Of course, take him, take him’, you start to wonder. But Glasner said: ‘He’s still got a lot to learn – and we could do with holding on to him.’ That told us how highly he rated Michael.
“And then there were the conversations with Michael himself. It’s a real pleasure to talk football with him,” Eberl told Bayern’s club magazine 51.
The sporting director explained that Bayern had identified Olise as an excellent left-footed winger who fitted the club’s requirements, although even they had not anticipated just how exceptional his development would become.
“Honestly, we knew we were signing an excellent left-footed winger who fitted the Bayern mould. But the fact that he would turn out to be so exceptional…
“The transfer fee was predictable because of the release clause. His development is also down to the environment and the team around him,” Eberl added.
Olise joined Bayern Munich after establishing himself at Crystal Palace, where his performances had attracted interest from several major European clubs.
His progress has since made him a central figure in the Munich side, with his ability to create chances, score goals and influence matches increasing his importance to the team.
Bayern’s next challenge will be securing his longer-term future. Olise’s current contract runs until 2029, and the club will be keen to reach an agreement over an extension rather than allow uncertainty to develop around one of their most valuable players.