Manchester City have announced the signing of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
Pep Guardiola had wanted to discuss the 21-year-old’s impending move at his news conference earlier in the day but said both clubs had asked him not to.
City released a statement two hours later – which read that they have ‘an agreement in principle with Dortmund’ – and have now sealed the prodigious striker ahead of next season.
City were expected to part with £63m to trigger a release clause in his contract.
But they have secured Haaland for £12m less than that figure – similar finance to Barcelona’s signing of Ferran Torres in January.
The Norway international, who has plundered 85 goals in 88 appearances for Dortmund, is set to earn around £400,000 a week over the course of a long-term contract.
City have negotiated with Haaland’s father, former player Alfie, and lawyer Rafaela Pimenta. Agency fees and bonuses will take the outlay to £85m.
A club statement read: “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.”
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