Bayern Munich has officially announced the permanent transfer of Armindo Sieb to Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC. The 23-year-old forward departs after two loan seasons at Mainz 05 and is valued at €2.5 million, with Bayern confirming the transfer fee as €500,000. This move concludes Sieb’s six-year tenure with Bayern, where he struggled to secure a consistent first-team opportunity.

Sieb joined Bayern as a teenager in 2020 after previous stints in the youth setups of RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim. During his time with the club, he made only one competitive first-team appearance, participating in the DFB-Pokal before going on multiple loan assignments to gain more playing time.

Advertisement

Breakthrough at Fürth Pushed Sieb Back Into Bayern’s View

The pivotal phase of Sieb’s early career unfolded at Greuther Fürth, where he played on loan in 2022. His performances during the 2023/24 season prompted Bayern to invoke a buyback clause, as Sieb netted 12 goals in 33 league matches and gained attention at the international youth level.

Sieb’s emerging talent was already catching the eye before his return to Bayern. He had established himself as a notable young attacker in Germany’s second division. Bayern renewed his contract until 2027 but opted to send him on another two-year loan to Mainz immediately after.

Mixed Results During Time at Mainz

His experience at Mainz proved inconsistent. According to Get German Football News, Sieb scored two goals and provided three assists in the Bundesliga despite starting just six league matches in his first season. One of his standout performances was against Bayern, where Sieb contributed both assists in Mainz’s surprising victory.

Advertisement

Initially, it seemed Sieb might carve out a more significant role in his second loan season after a promising start that included a goal against Augsburg. Coach Bo Henriksen described his display as “outstanding.” However, as the season progressed, Sieb found himself falling down the pecking order. A coaching change brought some renewed opportunities, particularly after an injury to Silas prompted Mainz to rely on his explosive playing style.

Sieb made key contributions in European competitions, including a goal in a Conference League match, but he ultimately did not secure a permanent spot. Over his two years at Mainz, he made 62 competitive appearances and scored five goals.

New Chapter Awaits at LAFC

Upon returning to Bayern for preseason training, Sieb was integrated into first-team practice but did not see a viable path to the squad under coach Vincent Kompany. His move to Los Angeles FC marks a fresh start, supported by Bayern’s ongoing partnership with the MLS team through “Red&Gold Football,” which has previously seen the transfer of another former Bayern academy player, Timothy Tillman.

Advertisement

Sporting director Christoph Freund expressed optimism about Sieb’s development in Los Angeles, stating, “We are very happy that, after Timothy Tillman, he is now the second player to make the move from our campus to our ‘Red&Gold’ partner club Los Angeles FC. We know that he is in very good hands there and will take the next step.”

With Sieb’s departure, his time at Bayern comes to a close. Overall, the Halle native managed to score four goals in 49 top-flight matches and added another 16 goals in 63 appearances in the second tier.

GGFN | Peter Weis

Bayern Munich have officially confirmed the permanent departure of Armindo Sieb, with the 23-year-old attacker joining MLS side Los Angeles FC after completing two loan seasons with Mainz 05. Transfermarkt lists the €2.5m-valued Sieb as a €500,000 sale. The move brings an end to a six-year association with Bayern for a player who was repeatedly developed elsewhere rather than afforded a genuine first-team opportunity in Munich.

Sieb joined Bayern as a 17-year-old in 2020 following earlier spells in the youth systems of RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim. He ultimately made only one competitive senior appearance for the record German champions, featuring in the DFB-Pokal before embarking upon a series of moves intended to accord him more regular playing time. 

Advertisement

Fürth breakthrough brought Sieb back onto Bayern radar

The most important stage of Sieb’s early development came at Greuther Fürth. Bayern allowed the forward to join the 2. Bundesliga club in 2022 before his performances during the 2023/24 campaign prompted the Munich club to exercise a buyback clause. Sieb scored 12 goals in 33 league appearances during that breakout season and also earned recognition at international youth level.

The forward’s rise had already attracted attention before his return to Bayern, with Sieb establishing himself as one of the more interesting young German attackers operating in the second division. Bayern eventually activated their option in 2024 and handed Sieb a contract through 2027, but immediately sent him out on an extended two-year loan to Mainz.

Mainz spell produced flashes rather than breakthrough

Sieb’s two seasons at Mainz ultimately proved more uneven. Get German Football News looked back on his first year at the club in the 2025/26 Mainz tactical preview, noting that the compact, powerful attacker had produced two Bundesliga goals and three assists despite starting only six league fixtures.

Advertisement

One of his strongest performances came against parent club Bayern in December 2024. Thrown into the side as an emergency replacement for Jonathan Burkardt, Sieb supplied both assists in Mainz’s 2-1 victory and demonstrated the direct running and physical qualities that had previously made him such an intriguing prospect.

His second loan season initially appeared capable of producing a larger role. GGFN reported in September 2025 that Bo Henriksen guaranteed Sieb another start after the attacker scored during Mainz’s 4-1 win at Augsburg. Henriksen described Sieb’s performance in that match as “outstanding.”

The momentum did not fully last. Sieb subsequently slipped down the attacking hierarchy, particularly after Urs Fischer took charge. His opportunity returned in the spring when a serious injury to Silas left Mainz searching for another explosive one-on-one threat.

GGFNcovered Fischer backing Sieb to step forward in March, with the coach identifying the Bayern loanee as the closest stylistic replacement for Silas because of his acceleration and ability to attack defenders directly.

Advertisement

Sieb responded with some useful European contributions. He came off the bench to score in Mainz’s 2-0 Conference League victory over Sigma Olomouc before again threatening repeatedly as a substitute against Racing Strasbourg.

The flashes nevertheless failed to translate into a permanent place at Mainz. Across his two-year loan, Sieb made 62 competitive appearances and scored five goals.

LAFC offer Sieb next development opportunity

Sieb returned to Bayern for preseason this summer and was allowed to train with the first team, but there was no realistic pathway into Vincent Kompany’s squad. Los Angeles now provide the next chapter. The MLS club already maintain a close working relationship with Bayern through the “Red&Gold Football” partnership and previously signed former Bayern academy player Timothy Tillman.

Advertisement

Sieb also knows Tillman personally after the pair briefly played together at Fürth before Tillman moved to LAFC in February 2023. Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund believes the California move can finally provide Sieb with the environment needed to take another step forward.

“We are very happy that, after Timothy Tillman, he is now the second player to make the move from our campus to our ‘Red&Gold’ partner club Los Angeles FC,” Freund said. “We know that he is in very good hands there and will take the next step.”

After four consecutive seasons away from Munich on loan or permanent assignment, Sieb’s Bayern chapter is thus officially closed. Overall, the Halle native scored four German top flight goals in 49 appearances. Sieb struck 16 times in 63 2. Bundesliga deployments. 

GGFN | Peter Weis