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BERLIN. — German soccer champions Bayern Munich yesterday splashed out a reported 73 million euros ($83 million) to launch their Champions League campaign for next season by signing Germany defender Mats Hummels and Portugal teenager Renato Sanches.

Centre-back Hummels (27) becomes the third Dortmund star to join German champions Bayern in three years after midfielder Mario Goetze in 2013, followed by striker Robert Lewandowski in 2014. Sanches and Hummels have been given five-year contracts at Bayern, who were confirmed German champions for a record fourth season in a row last Saturday. The team are smarting though after being beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. Neither Dortmund nor Bayern said how much the Hummels transfer cost, but German media put the fee at 38 million euros. The Bavarian giants confirmed they were paying an initial 35 million euros for the 18-year-old Sanches. Benfica said the fee could rise to 45 million euros. — AFP.