Joshua Kimmich will miss Bayern Munich’s Champions League clash with Arsenal on Wednesday night after his father’s sudden death plunged his family into mourning.

The Bayern Munich captain missed training for personal reasons and the tragic loss of his dad Berthold, aged 57, has now been confirmed.

In a statement released this morning the German champions said: ‘Due to a death in his immediate family, Joshua Kimmich is not in the squad today for the match against Arsenal London.’ German newspaper BILD have since identified the death in the family to be Kimmich’s father, Berthold.

Berthold is said to be one of the most important people in Kimmich’s life, driving him ‘half a world’ to play at his first club Stuttgart as a child – despite being ridiculed in their local village.

Kimmich, 31, has four children with wife Lina and reports in Germany say the family ‘is now weathering this difficult time together’.

Kimmich has started all but one of Bayern’s matches this season, only missing out on the starting XI in their Bundesliga win over Elversberg, in which he appeared as a substitute.

Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich’s father has died, leaving him in mourning

BILD say Kimmich and wife Lina are ‘now weathering a difficult time together’

Bayern will also be without Michael Olise tonight, with the French winger serving a one-match ban after he was sent off against Viking in their Champions League opener.

Manager Vincent Kompany may also be absent after it emerged a virus has left him in pain when he walks.  

Asked if the virus was affecting his ability to walk, Kompany’s assistant coach Aaron Danks said on Tuesday: ‘It has affected his legs, yes. He has had pain in his legs.

‘The most important thing for him now is to rest and I don’t know if he will be ready tomorrow or in two or three days’ time.

‘Getting him to rest is hard. He’s a leader. But it’s a virus and it’s really important that he rests.

‘He is at home at the moment but I am in constant communication with him and he will be involved tomorrow, whether that’s at the Allianz or not I don’t know at the moment.’ 

Kimmich, pictured alongside Harry Kane, has started all but one of Bayern’s games

Arsenal face a Bayern team that has only lost once at home since April 2025 and only once home or away since a defeat to PSG in last year’s Champions League semi-final.

Former Arsenal forward Serge Gnabry – expected to play tonight – was once a team-mate of Gunners manager Mikel Arteta and said: ‘I did not speak to him back then about being a coach but he was a great leader.

‘He helped me enormously. As young players, he would always have an open ear for us. That shows what kind of person he is.

‘It’s special for me to play against my former club and it will be different than a Bundesliga game.

‘It’s more intense and physical against Premier League teams.’