Joshua Kimmich will miss Bayern Munich’s Champions League clash against Arsenal following the death of his father, according to German media reports, after the club announced his absence due to a sad family circumstance.
The midfielder had missed the team’s final training session on Tuesday for personal reasons, before Bayern revealed the background behind his absence on Wednesday morning, hours before the fixture at the Allianz Arena.
Bild reported that the Germany international’s father, Berthold Kimmich, passed away suddenly at the age of 57, while the club’s statement simply referred to a death within the player’s immediate family circle.
Bayern stated in their announcement: “Kimmich will not be in the squad for the Arsenal match due to a death in his family.”
The club added, conveying the family’s request: “We ask that the family’s privacy and grief be respected,” urging media outlets to refrain from making further inquiries and coverage regarding the incident.
Bayern concluded their message by affirming their support for their player: “The entire FC Bayern stands behind Kimmich,” without specifying a date for his return to training or matches.
The 31-year-old has made ten official appearances for the team since the start of the season, providing four assists, meaning Vincent Kompany will be without one of his most vital midfield figures against the London club.
Kimmich joined Bayern from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2015, contributed to their historic sextuple in 2020, has captained the Germany national team since September 2024, and is under contract with the Bavarian club until June 2029.
