Dortmund beat Manchester United to signing of Erling Braut HaalandHighly-rated 19-year-old signs four-and-a-half year deal
Transfer from RB Salzburg ends widespread speculation
Borussia Dortmund have signed the highly-rated striker Erling Braut Haaland from RB Salzburg for an undisclosed fee.The much-hyped 19-year-old, who has recently been linked with a host of top clubs in the Premier League and around Europe, has signed a contract until 30 June 2024.
Manchester United were thought to be very interested in the striker, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær and the player working together for two seasons at Molde in 2017 and 2018. United have scouted the 19-year-old on several occasions but they and Juventus initially faced competition from, among others, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, all of whom had scouted him. In total more than 20 clubs have watched the young Norwegian before Dortmund made their move.
In a press release issued by Dortmund, CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said: “Despite interest from many other top clubs in Europe, Erling Haaland has opted for the sporting challenge that BVB is able to offer as well as the opportunities we presented him with. Our persistence has paid off.”
The club’s Sporting Director Michael Zorc added: “We can all look forward to welcoming an ambitious, athletic and physically strong centre forward who has a nose for goal as well as impressive pace. We want to improve him as a player at Dortmund. At 19 years of age, he is of course still at the beginning of what will hopefully be a glittering career!”
Haaland scored 16 goals in just 14 appearances for Salzburg after joining from Molde in January – including eight goals in six Champions League matches – which alerted a host of the world’s biggest clubs to his obvious talent.
The son of former Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Norway midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland, the teenager was born in Leeds.
Haaland said: “I had the feeling that I definitely wanted to transfer to this club, take this path and play in the incredible atmosphere that Dortmund provides in front of more than 80,000 spectators. I literally cannot wait to get started.”
The club’s statement adds that Haaland will join up with the team-mates for the first time on on 3 January before heading to to Marbella for a team training camp the following day.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/29/borussia-dortmund-manchester-united-signing-erling-braut-haaland?CMP=share_btn_tw
