BERLIN: Bayern Munich confirmed on Sunday they have signed Germany pair Niklas Suele and Sebastian Rudy from Bundesliga rivals Hoffenheim for the 2017/18 season. The German league resumes on Friday when leaders Bayern are at Freiburg, but the Bavarian giants have already started recruiting for next season. Rudy will join on a free transfer while Bayern’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said they paid a ‘fair and serious’ price for Suele. German daily Bild put the figure at 20 million euros ($21.2m), plus bonuses. The burly centre-back, 21, is regarded as a die Mannschaft star of the future having made his senior international debut in 2016. He will receive a Bayern contract until June 2022. Rudy, 26, who can play either right back of defensive midfielder, has made 12 international appearances since 2014 and signed a three-and-a-half year deal. As of July 1, both will officially be Bayern players. “The transfer of two German internationals is an investment in Bayern’s future,” said Rummenigge. Bayern are three points clear at the top of the table going into the second-half of the season. Fifth-placed Hoffenheim, coached by 29-year-old Julian Nagelsmann – the youngest trainer in Bundesliga history – are the only team still unbeaten this season in Germany’s top flight. Bayern have again signed talent from a team who could threaten their German league domination. In recent seasons they recruited Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels and Mario Goetze, who later returned, from main rivals Borussia Dortmund. The experience of two internationals will be hard to replace for Hoffenheim. Suele has made 90 Bundesliga appearances while Rudy has played 177 times in the league. “To transfer to Munich is an absolute dream for me and I want to win titles there,” said Rudy. Suele said he is looking forward to joining ‘one of the best teams in the world’.