Joshua Kimmich granted compassionate leave, misses Bayern Munich v Arsenal at Allianz Arena

Joshua Kimmich missed Bayern Munich’s UEFA Champions League 2026-27 meeting with Arsenal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night after being granted compassionate leave following a death in his immediate family. Bayern confirmed the midfielder would not be included in the squad for the match.

Bayern entered the fixture with several selection concerns: Jamal Musiala was ruled out with an injury, Kim Min-jae and Manuel Neuer were listed as doubtful, and Michael Olise remained suspended after being sent off in the previous continental game. Vincent Kompany, Bayern’s head coach, therefore faced a depleted squad in midfield and defence ahead of the Arsenal game.

The club announced Kimmich’s absence on its social media channels, stating that the player had been given leave due to a bereavement. “On behalf of the family, we ask that his privacy and grief be respected, and that further inquiries and reporting be refrained from,” the post read. “We send our deepest condolences to Joshua Kimmich and his loved ones.”

German publication BILD reported that Kimmich’s father, Berthold, had died aged 57; that report had not been confirmed by either the player or Bayern Munich. Kimmich missed the team’s final training session on Tuesday because of the personal bereavement and was left out of the matchday squad as a result.

In midfield, Kompany could reshuffle his options with Tom Bischof likely to start alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic in Kimmich’s absence. The manager’s selection choices were constrained further by Musiala’s injury and Olise’s suspension.

Kimmich’s compassionate leave means he will not take part in Bayern’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Arsenal, leaving Kompany to adjust his midfield selection for the remainder of the matchday squad.