Harry Kane has indicated that his urge to return to the Premier League has reduced considerably since moving to Germany. The England captain, who is edging closer to signing a new contract with Bayern Munich, said he no longer feels the same ‘itch’ to go after Alan Shearer’s all-time scoring record.
A change in outlook for the England captain
Kane has revealed that his view on a return to English football has changed significantly during his spell in the Bundesliga. When the striker left Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern Munich in 2023 in a transfer worth £86.4 million, many expected that he would eventually come back and add to his 213 goals, with the aim of overtaking Shearer’s Premier League record of 260.
Speaking after collecting the European Golden Shoe on Wednesday, Kane spoke openly about his future and his present mindset. “When I first left, for sure it was something I thought - I would definitely be coming back. That itch isn't there as much anymore. I am extremely happy here in Munich; it opened my eyes to a totally different world of football outside of England and it has made me appreciate European football even more.”
Settled in Munich under Vincent Kompany
The 33-year-old’s contentment is not only down to his personal goalscoring numbers - after scoring a remarkable 61 goals in 51 appearances last season to help Vincent Kompany’s side win a domestic league and cup double - but also to the way his family has settled in Munich. With Kane now moving into the final 12 months of his original four-year contract, reports indicate that talks over an extension to keep him at the Allianz Arena are about to begin.
Kane feels the current environment at Bayern gives him the best platform to express himself on the pitch. “I just think the team we have here and the manager, my family is really settled here, it is just about being in the best place possible. Never say never, but for now I am concentrating on Bayern Munich and we will see what the future holds,” he added.
Reaching the best version of himself
In statistical terms, Kane is enjoying the most prolific phase of his career, having scored 73 goals for club and country across all competitions last season. That outstanding return has only strengthened his belief that leaving London was the right move for his progress. Under Kompany, Kane believes he has developed into a more complete footballer, thriving in a system that combines tactical structure with attacking freedom.
“I think this is the best version of myself for sure. I think last season speaks for itself, from that sense the best season in my career no doubt,” Kane said confidently. “Since the boss has come in he has elevated my game to another level. That is down to the style of play, the way we attack and the way we defend, the way he gives players freedom to sometimes receive the ball deeper and sometimes arrive late in the box.”
Building on foundations laid in the past
While the Bundesliga has given him a fresh stage, Kane accepts that the tactical freedom he is enjoying now first began to develop during the later years of his Tottenham career. He compared his present role with the duties he carried out under previous managers in north London, pointing out how his game had already moved beyond that of a conventional number nine. The striker is now aiming to carry that excellent form into the new season and begin with silverware when Bayern take on Borussia Dortmund in the DFL-Supercup this Saturday.
“I also had a lot of this and these kind of different positions during my Tottenham career as well, especially from the [Jose] Mourinho stage onwards, it was the same sort of thing - I had freedom to come deep and get the ball and I had a great relationship with Son Heung-min. It has been building but I think this season with the team I have around me, the players we have and the system we play with the coach, it has just elevated me to another level.”
