The highly-rated striker, Erling Haaland has signed in Borussia Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg after the club met to his 20m euro buyout clause.
Haaland has finally decided to join the German side on a deal until 2014. The 19-year-old had been the point of interest for Manchester United and Juventus.
Leeds-born Haaland is the son to the former Leeds and Manchester City player Alf-Inge Haaland. He moved to Red Bull Salzburg from Norwegian side, Molde in January.
The Norway international has scored 16 goals in 14 appearances in Austria’s top division this season. He has further scored eight goals in the Champions League group stage, the second-most in the competition.
His former team, Salzburg, however, finished third in Group E that was won by Liverpool.
the striker will join Dortmund on 3rd January. He said, “there was a feeling right from the start that I wanted to switch this club, go this route and play football in this incredible Dortmund atmosphere in front of more than 80,000 spectators.”
“I am already burning for it.”
Dortmund’s chief executive, Hans-Joachim Watzke said, “Despite many offers from absolute to clubs from all over Europe, Erling Haaland decided on the sporting task at BVB and the perspective that we have shown him.”
“Our tenacity has paid off.”
Haaland’s decision to join Dortmund is a blow to Man United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managed the teenager at Molde and flew to Austria last month to speak with him. However, Solskjaer ha felt for several weeks Haaland was far more likely to join a German club.
It has been suggested Alf-Inge Haaland and agent Mino Raiola will get a share of future transfers as part of the deal. This was something United refused to negotiate about and Dortmund has made no comments on the decision.