Manchester City have made Erling Haaland’s transfer from Borussia Dortmund official. The Nowegian’s release clause said to be closer to 60 million euros than the 75 million that was initially reported.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein had first broken the news of the 21-year-old making his mind about joining City.The news was confirmed and seconded by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano hours later, and the defending Premier League champions have now made it official. Notably, the striker’s father Alf Inge Haaland played for the Citizens between 2000 and 2003.
Speculation surrounding where Haaland would end up given that his 75 million release clause with Borussia Dortmund was going to come into effect this summer, became the hot topic in European football. Almost every big club like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain tried desperately to land the Norwegian’s services, but City emerged as the winners of the race.
The Premier League leaders have also revealed that the striker’s buyout clause is about 60 million, and they have informed the Borussia board about their intention to activate it. The Norwegian international will also earn a salary of nearly 350,000 pounds a week, plus bonuses, which makes him the second-highest paid player in the City squad along with midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
“Manchester City can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the club on 1st July 2022. The transfer remains subject to the club finalising terms with the player,”
the club said in an official media release.
City also revealed that Haaland had passed a medical with the club’s facilities earlier this week and this dealt multi-million deal, including agent fees, commissions and bonuses, now ends Pep Guardiola’s search for a star striker following the departure of Sergio Aguero in July 2021.
The Citizens were desperate to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham last summer, but chairman Daniel Levy didn’t budge. His financial demands were too steep for them, especially after they triggered Jack Grealish’s 100 million release clause.
Haaland had taken the storm following his move to Borussia Dortmund from RB Salzburg in January 2020. He has scored 85 goals in 88 appearances for the German side, who have recently secured a second spot finish in the 2021/22 Bundesliga season.
