DORTMUND – Borussia Dortmund have signed promising young striker Erling Haaland from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg on a four-and-a-half year deal, the Bundesliga club said on Sunday.
The transfer fee was undisclosed but British media reported the German side paid the equivalent of about 18 million pounds ($23 million) for the 19-year-old, who signed a deal until June 2024.
Haaland, 19, shot to fame this season when he scored 16 league goals and eight goals in the Champions League group stages – second only to Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski's tally of 10.
The teenage sensation was linked with a number of top European clubs in recent months including Juventus, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool.
In a statement released by the club, Haaland said: ''I had several intense conversations with the club's management team, in particular with Hans-Joachim Watzke, Michael Zorc and coach Lucien Favre.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/RedBullSalzburg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RedBullSalzburgon a contract until 2024! pic.twitter.com/C9ilU0u0dt
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow)
"Right from the very start, I knew I wanted to move here. I can't wait to get started and play in front of over 80,000 fans in the incredible Dortmund atmosphere. I'm so excited.''