Borussia Dortmund sign Erling Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg
Borussia Dortmund have announced the signing of coveted teenaged striker Erling Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg.
The 19-year-old Norway international, who had been linked with a whole host of European clubs, has signed a deal through to 30 June 2024.
"I had intensive talks with the club hierarchy, especially with [CEO] Hans-Joachim Watzke, [sporting director] Michael Zorc and coach Lucien Favre," explained Haaland. "I had the feeling from an early stage that I really wanted to join this club, go this way, and play in the incredible Dortmund atmosphere in front of over 80,000 supporters. I can't wait to get started."
Haaland started out in Norway with Byrne, before moving to Molde where he won the 2018 Eliteserien Breakthrough of the Year award after scoring 16 goals in 30 matches in all competitions in his second season with the club.
He joined Salzburg in January 2019, and scored the first of his five hat-tricks with the Austrian Bundesliga outfit in a 7-1 Austrian Cup win over Parndorf seven months later.
Haaland also took home the matchball following league meetings with Wolfsberger (twice) and Hartberg, as well as on his UEFA Champions League debut against Genk. His strike in Salzburg's next European assignment away to defending champions Liverpool, meanwhile, saw him become the first player in the competition's history to find the net with his first four efforts on goal.
All told, the two-time Norway international - who won the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot after plundering nine in his country's 12-0 rout of Honduras - netted 29 goals in 27 appearances in a Salzburg shirt.
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"We can expect an ambitious, athletic and physical centre forward with a proven nose for goal," said Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc of Haaland's credentials. "At 19, Erling is still at the start of what will hopefully be a massive career."
The Dortmund striker, who will link up with his new teammates at their winter training camp in Marbella, Spain on 3 January 2020, is the son of former Nottinham Forest, Leeds United, Manchester City and Norway midfielder Alf Inge Haaland.
He could make his Bundesliga debut when BVB travel to Augsburg in their first competitive game of the new year on 18 January.
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