Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund have said forward Marco Reus suffered a muscular injury during Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Werder Bremen that could keep him sidelined for up to one month. 

The club's official Twitter account confirmed news of the problem accrued by the Germany international during their DFB Cup round-of-16 loss:

During yesterday’s match, Marco Reus sustained a muscle injury that looks to keep him sidelined for up to four weeks.

Get well soon, Captain 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3TyZ4qgpkZ

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 5, 2020

The problem is the latest in a long line of injury issues for Reus, with the forward having missed a succession of key games for the Westfalenstadion club, as well as the last two major international tournaments with Germany.

Reus was enjoying an impressive run of fitness this season, scoring 11 goals and recording six assists in 19 Bundesliga appearances. Dortmund sit third in the Bundesliga and two points behind leaders Bayern Munich at the time of his injury.

The blow means he now looks set to miss Dortmund's UEFA Champions League round-of-16 first leg at home to Paris Saint-Germain on February 18. The Black and Yellows will travel to the Parc des Princes for the return leg on March 11.

Not having the 30-year-old on the field means Dortmund are weaker, as Reus has consistently proved himself as one of European football's most dangerous operators. He's enjoyed a new lease of life under Lucien Favre, too.

Reus has a rare blend of pace, excellent technique and a sharp football brain. Whether operating from the left flank or as a split striker, he is a threat who is able to create space and chances for his team-mates and score goals himself.

The worry for Reus is that other attacking stars will overtake him in the pecking order at Dortmund while he sits on the sidelines. Jadon Sancho, Mario Gotze, Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard and new arrival Erling Haaland are all talented operators who thrive in a similar area to the ex-Borussia Monchengladbach star.

Favre will shuffle his plans ahead of Saturday's trip to Bayer Leverkusen, who sit fifth in the Bundesliga and five points below Dortmund. 

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has said the club have received no approaches for "phenomenon" Jadon Sancho, but he can't guarantee the winger will be at the Westfalenstadion next season. 

Sancho, 19, left Manchester City to join the Black and Yellows in 2017, swiftly settling in as senior star at Dortmund and attracting interest from a host of European football's major powers.

Zorc paid his player high praise in an interview with Sport Bild (h/t Goal's Stephen Darwin) but was honest in regards to whether he felt Sancho will remain in Dortmund beyond this campaign: 

"The fact is no other club has contacted us so far about Jadon.

"[I can't] reliably answer today [if Sancho will stay at Dortmund beyond the summer]. What I can say for sure is that he feels very comfortable with us. Otherwise he could not produce such [high-level] performances week after week.

"He is a phenomenon and is now producing top performances. And he rarely takes a break on the pitch, helping the team with their defensive work. He is hard-working and gets the greatest of respect from me."

Sancho scored the opener in Saturday's 5-0 rout of Union Berlin to become the youngest player to reach 25 goals in the Bundesliga, via BT Sport (UK viewers only):

Jadon Sancho in the Bundesliga this season:

• 18 games
• 12 goals
• 12 assists

He's 19 years old. He's English. 🙌🦁

On Saturday, he became the first Bundesliga player to score 2️⃣5️⃣ goals before turning 20... pic.twitter.com/dbIuBvZvJj

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 3, 2020

The England international was understandably delighted with his landmark strike, helping the Black and Yellows climb to third after RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach each drew in Week 20:

What a performance from the team 🔥.
Happy to make history by being the youngest ever player to score 25 goals in the Bundesliga 🙌🏼. #MambaMentailty 🙏🏼 #24 pic.twitter.com/4Zj3LqVTSh

— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) February 1, 2020

Darwin cited existing interest in the player from Manchester United and Chelsea, each of which appear eager to offer the London native a route back to the Premier League.

Sancho joined the Black and Yellows for a reported fee of £8 million, per the Guardian's Ed Aarons, but it's possible he could fetch 10 times that figure or more when he departs Signal Iduna Park.

Dortmund often prove themselves shrewd negotiators in the transfer market, having recently signed Erling Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg for €22.5 million (£19 million), per the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano. The Norwegian wonderkid, also 19, has eight goals in his first four appearances for the German giants.

Sam Dean of the Telegraph testified to Sancho's staggering consistency in attack, contributing at least one direct goal contribution in all but two of his last 13 appearances for club and country:

Jadon Sancho’s productivity since mid-November has been ridiculous. Screenshot from @WhoScored pic.twitter.com/fDBhzm7CgD

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) February 3, 2020

Despite his age, the former Watford academy starlet—who is contracted at Dortmund until 2022—has stormed to elite levels early on in his senior career, per Statman Dave:

Jadon Sancho is the only player across Europe's top five leagues to have registered double figures in both goals and assists this season:

• 18 appearances
• 12 assists
• 12 goals

Tearing it up. ⚽ 🅰️ pic.twitter.com/YCgbPkOwfR

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 4, 2020

United and Chelsea have been the two teams most strongly linked with Sancho, though the Independent's Melissa Reddy wrote runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool also have an interest.

Dortmund have proved capable recruiters when it comes to replacing such high-value assets in the past, and Zorc's comments suggest the club won't block Sancho's departure provided their needs are met.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed former club Borussia Dortmund for their activity in the January transfer window, believing Emre Can and Erling Haaland can help the side achieve great things.

Klopp spoke to Bild (h/t Goal's James Westwood) about Can's return to Germany and said the former Liverpool midfielder is a perfect fit:

"I am happy for BVB and Emre Can. It's a win-win situation. Emre is just a perfect match for this club.

"BVB got a top lad, a wonderful, versatile footballer with an outstanding attitude.

"I trust them to achieve a lot in the Ruckrunde [second half of the season] with Can and Haaland."

Can joined Dortmund from Juventus on a loan deal that includes an obligation to buy.

The Germany international moved to Turin as a free agent ahead of the 2018-19 campaign and had a solid first season under manager Massimiliano Allegri. His playing time decreased under Maurizio Sarri, however, leading to a split in January.

Per StatsBomb, the 26-year-old did what was asked of him whenever he played:

Emre Can, Juventus 2018-19.

This is strong output from a DM, and he's been even better under Sarri (though small sample, so not featured).

James and Ted mentioned him as a good signing on the podcast this week. BVB fans should be pretty happy. pic.twitter.com/dR0zvUpjlM

— Hudl Statsbomb (@Statsbomb) January 31, 2020

Sarri preferred the trio of Miralem Pjanic, Adrien Rabiot and Rodrigo Bentancur, however, while Blaise Matuidi also sat ahead of Can in the pecking order.

He now has the chance to rebuild his reputation at Dortmund, where he should receive plenty of playing time. He showed his ability to play as a defender in Turin and is expected to slide straight into the starting XI in the 3-4-3 formation Dortmund have used with great success of late.

Haaland has been a smash hit in that system:

The 19-year-old has set the Bundesliga on fire since joining from Red Bull Salzburg, scoring an incredible seven goals in just three appearances, with two coming off the bench.

Haaland has needed almost no time to adapt to his new surroundings, and he believes he's not playing at his best:

Erling Haaland:
Games 3️⃣
Goals 7️⃣

"I still have to get fitter, I need more games. I am not at 100 per cent yet."

He can get BETTER?! 😨 pic.twitter.com/aF11psJ1KT

— GOAL (@goal) February 1, 2020

The 2019-20 Bundesliga campaign has been one of the tightest in ages with just three points separating first-placed Bayern Munich from fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach. Dortmund are third, tied on points with Monchengladbach, and have won three consecutive matches.

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has heaped praise on team-mate Erling Haaland but said he's got some way to go before he's at the same level as former BVB striker Robert Lewandowski.

Haaland moved to Dortmund in the January transfer window from Red Bull Salzburg and has enjoyed a remarkable start to his career at the Westfalenstadion, with seven goals from one start and two substitute appearances for his new club.

Speaking about the teenager, Hummels joked that he's been helping him with his goalscoring touch in the early weeks at Dortmund, per WELT (h/t Goal).

"Haaland is doing well," the defender said. "Of course I give him some tips how this works. He has more goals in 57 minutes than I will score in the whole season. ... [I hope Haaland stays] as long as I am here. At least I wish so."

The Norway international made his first start for the club on Saturday in a 5-0 win over Union Berlin, helping Dortmund stay remain three points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich:

Another day, another brace.

Erling Braut Haaland is going to take some stopping 🔥 pic.twitter.com/P1BlhAot4f

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 1, 2020

Every game Haaland has been involved in since he arrived at Dortmund has seen the team net five times, with Lucien Favre's side rediscovering their attacking swagger since the arrival of the 19-year-old.

Squawka Football provided the figures behind the striker's rapid start in Germany:

Erling Haaland's Bundesliga career for Borussia Dortmund so far:

🔘 77 minutes played
🔘 7 shots
🔘 6 goals

Super-human. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/j8eS73Slmz

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 1, 2020

Ronan Murphy of Goal put his goalscoring into context, with Haaland chopping down the gap to some of the division's top goalscorers:

UPDATE: Erling Haaland is now 15 goals behind Robert Lewandowski and 13 goals behind Timo Werner in the top scorer race. He's just been taken off though. That's it for today. #BVB

— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) February 1, 2020

Although Haaland is making a name for himself, Lewandowski—who played with Dortmund from 2010-14 and then later with Bayern—remains the standout forward in the division in the eyes of Hummels.

"I played together with Lewandowski for many years, so I know a good striker when I see one," the defender said. "[Haaland] is not at the same level yet, though."

Haaland could do worse than model his game on Lewandowski. Like the Bayern star, Haaland is physically imposing and quick for someone with a burly physique; Lewandowski comes alive in the penalty area, able to finish with both feet and his head, but his link play is silky and effective too.

Per former Norway international Jan Aage Fjortoft, Union defender and former Dortmund man Neven Subotic compared Haaland and Lewandowski after Saturday's game:

.@NSubotic4 the Union Berlin - player who played in Dortmund with great strikers, told me in an interview after the game:

- Haaland is a mixture between Aubameyang and Lewandowski@BVB @lewy_official
@Aubameyang7
@ViasportFotball

— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) February 1, 2020

It's still early days in Haaland's Dortmund career, and his goalscoring will likely slow down at some point. However, it appears the striker will be one of the most prolific players on the continent for a long time yet.

This season, the form of RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner appears to have pushed Lewandowski to even higher levels, with the pair on 20 and 22 goals respectively. With an absorbing title race shaping up, it'll be fascinating to see which of the three forwards mentioned can fire their team to glory.

Erling Haaland continued his remarkable start to life at Borussia Dortmund on Friday, scoring two goals as a substitute in his team's 5-1 win over Cologne in the Bundesliga. 

The striker, who signed for BVB from Red Bull Salzburg this month, netted a hat-trick when he came off the bench against Augsburg on his competitive debut last weekend. 

It wasn't enough to earn him a spot in the starting XI for Friday's match, although the forward was able to make the most of the time he had on the field, converting twice to help add some gloss to a dominant display from Dortmund:

This is getting ridiculous! 😂

Hat-trick on debut ✅
Goal in front of the yellow wall 🙌
Four goals in his first week 🤩

Erling 🔥 Braut 🔥 Håland pic.twitter.com/F3fJuB3SYh

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 24, 2020

He's done it AGAIN! 🤯

Håland makes that look easy. It's not.

5️⃣ goals for Dortmund and he hasn't even played 90 minutes of football for them yet! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/qxe7r9tUvF

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 24, 2020

Per Robin Bairner of Goal, the brace for Haaland sees the striker break a Bundesliga record, with no player previously scoring five goals in their first two appearances in the German top flight.

As BR Football relayed, the 19-year-old's incredible haul is made all the more remarkable by his minimal time on the field:

Erling Haaland has now scored 5 goals in 57 Bundesliga minutes. Unreal. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Qi6RICaEnc

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 24, 2020

Football journalist Richard Jolly added further context to Haaland's goalscoring, comparing his finishing to that of Manchester United's, who were strongly linked with a move for the Norway international:

https://twitter.com/RichJolly/status/1220818757783904256

After leaving Salzburg to join a more challenging division like the Bundesliga, Haaland would have been forgiven for undergoing a transition period in his young career. However, the teenager has hit the ground running for his new side.

Already, he has showcased a razor-sharp killer instinct in front of goal, smart movement and the strength needed to cut it in one of European football's most physical leagues.

Per EiF, whatever competition Haaland has played in this season, he's found it easy to hit the back of the net:

Erling Haaland this season:

- 33 goals
- 7 assists
- 8 Champions League Group Stage goals
- 5 goals off the bench in under 60 minutes for Dortmund

Quite simply a machine. pic.twitter.com/vIDfzuMPfD

— EiF (@EiFSoccer) January 24, 2020

Following the game, some of the striker's team-mates commented on a stunning beginning to his time at Dortmund:

Roman Bürki on Erling Haaland only scoring twice tonight after getting a hat-trick last weekend, to DAZN: "It's a shame that he's already slowing down." 😂 #BVB #BVBKOE

— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) January 24, 2020

Also on the scoresheet on the night were Raphael Guerreiro, Marco Reus and Jadon Sancho, as BVB scored five goals for the second consecutive week in the Bundesliga. The win moves them provisionally up to third place ahead of the weekend's games, four points behind leaders RB Leipzig, who have a game in hand.

Although Dortmund still have a lot of work to do if they are to challenge for the title this season, they are one of the most effective attacking teams in European football and in Haaland, have one of the best goalscorers in the game on their books.

With a two-legged UEFA Champions League clash to come with Paris Saint-Germain next month too, those who frequent the Westfalenstadion have plenty to be excited about.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has said the club are yet to decide Mario Gotze's future.

The playmaker's contract expires in the summer, at which point he'll be a free agent. 

However, Zorc told Ruhr Nachrichten (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic):

"That has not yet been decided.

"It is of course also the case with him that he would like to have more minutes. We are talking to Mario.

"I spoke to his father before Christmas. I spoke to him again in Marbella. We will surely get together in the spring and then make a final decision."

BVB spent time in Marbella at a training camp earlier in January:

We arrived at our training camp in Marbella and started with a training session right away pic.twitter.com/MUw210Sm1w

— mariogotze.eth (@MarioGoetze) January 5, 2020

Around that time, reports surfaced that Gotze would be leaving at the end of the season without penning a new deal:

Mario Götze will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer on a free transfer as the club and player could not agree a contract, according to Bild. #BVB

— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) January 6, 2020

However, Zorc told ARD (h/t Goal's Ronan Murphy) such talk "surprised" him because those decisions are yet to be made by either party, which he reiterated to Ruhr Nachrichten.

Gotze rose through the ranks at Dortmund as a youngster. He showed incredible potential and contributed 31 goals and 44 assists in 116 appearances in his first spell at the club.

He was snapped up by Bayern Munich in 2013 at the age of just 21. Gotze returned 36 goals and 24 assists in 114 matches, but he struggled to kick on under Pep Guardiola and rejoined BVB in 2016.

The Germany international hasn't been able to recapture the form of his first spell since his return, though.

Injuries have been a recurring problem throughout his career, and he has missed 46 games though various issues since he moved back to Dortmund, including 18 games out with a metabolic illness.

In the 98 appearances he has made, he has produced 14 goals and 17 assists.

He has one assist to his name in this campaign and three goals, the most recent of which came in Dortmund's final Bundesliga game of 2019 against Hoffenheim (U.S. only):

Dortmund strike first! Mario Gotze finishes off a fine move to open the scoring at Hoffenheim. pic.twitter.com/deCZwgTPDB

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 20, 2019

Gotze will turn 28 in June, so if he does leave this summer his next club will be signing a free agent who likely still has plenty of time left in him at the top level.

They'll be able to offer him a more significant role than he's currently playing at Dortmund, too.

He has started just six of his 16 appearances in all competitions this season, spending 579 minutes on the pitch. If he's to ever get back to the level he once operated at he needs to be playing more regularly, but in the immediate future at least, it does not seem he'll get to do so at Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly "adamant" Jadon Sancho will not switch clubs in January amid rumours linking the England international with Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

According to Sky in Germany (h/t Sky Sports), BVB do not believe they could find an adequate replacement during the January window, and as a result, they will not sanction a sale. A summer transfer remains likely, however.

The report does not come as a surprise, with few rumours swirling around the 19-year-old early in the January window.

Per the Daily Mail (h/t Anfield Watch) and The Sun's Duncan Wright, both the Reds and Blues do not have plans for him:

https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1214223355211071488

EXC: Not the news Chelsea fans will want, but club have cooled interest in Sancho for this month at least. A striker is a higher priority- https://t.co/9yWugUyhWv @TheSunFootball

— Duncan Wright (@dwright75) January 3, 2020

Sancho has been a regular for Dortmund so far this season, starting 14 Bundesliga matches. He has already scored nine goals and added nine assists and is well on track to set career-high marks in both categories.

Here's a look at some of his highlights so far:

His exceptional development and sky-high potential have made him a popular transfer target, and he's expected to be a hot commodity when he becomes available.

Sancho left the Manchester City academy for the Signa Iduna Park in 2017, a bold move that has paid off in a big way. He needed little time to get settled in Germany and has developed at a rapid pace since making his Bundesliga debut, playing his first minutes for the national team less than a year later.

The speedster's current contract doesn't include a buyout clause and will run until 2022. That gives Dortmund plenty of leverage in transfer talks, and with seemingly every top club in Europe expressing some interest, Die Schwarzgelben will hope they can start a bidding war.

A January sale makes little sense, however. Barring catastrophic injury, Sancho's value shouldn't go down between now and summer, and Dortmund need the teenager at his best for the rest of the campaign.

The team has not enjoyed a great first half of the season domestically and sit in fourth place in the Bundesliga, tied with fifth-placed Schalke on points. Competition for a top-four spot and a ticket to the Champions League is tight, with eighth-placed Freiburg just four points back.  

New Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland has said the club's plan for his development "triggered" him to sign for them over potential transfer rivals. 

The Norwegian has blossomed into one of the most exciting young players in European football this season, having excelled in the UEFA Champions League for Red Bull Salzburg.

Unsurprisingly, there was plenty of speculation regarding the striker, with the likes of Manchester United and RB Leipzig linked with a possible January move. However, Haaland made the switch to Dortmund and has outlined his thinking behind opting for the Westfalenstadion.

"They just went direct and said, 'We need you upfront, we like your playing style and we want to have you here'," he said, per Sacha Pisani of Goal. "I liked how they spoke to me then, and that's what triggered me [to sign]. I just felt that me and Dortmund was a good match."

Haaland's agent, Mino Raiola, said it was United who held the most talks with the striker. "Clearly he felt that at this moment it was not the right step in his career," he added. "There is nothing against Manchester United or [manager] Ole Gunnar Solskjaer."

Dortmund will be pleased to have signed Haaland, as this season he has proved he can find the net at the highest level. BT Sport looked back at some of his best moments from the UEFA Champions League this season:

16 league goals ⚽️
Debut Champions League hat-trick 🔥
Just 19 years old 😱

Borussia Dortmund win the race for Erling Braut Håland 🤝 pic.twitter.com/WqC9mX14ss

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 29, 2019

In Europe and the Austrian top flight, Haaland has been extraordinarily prolific:

Erling Braut Håland for Salzburg in all competitions this season:

• 22 games
• 28 goals
• 5 assists
• 5 hat-tricks

Now leading the front-line of Borussia Dortmund. 😍 https://t.co/OxgLcImdsw

— Squawka (@Squawka) December 29, 2019

Haaland's decision does seem like a sensible one, given Dortmund are considered to be one of the best developers of young players in the world.

In recent years, the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic have honed their skills with BVB before departing for big money to Barcelona and Chelsea, respectively.

At 19 years old, the striker is still in the early stages of his career and has rough parts of his game that require refinement. Dortmund will be a fantastic environment for him to continue that process, as opposed to the huge pressure that comes with playing for a juggernaut like Manchester United.

The goalscoring potency of Haaland will help streamline any adaptation process:

https://twitter.com/LarsPollmann/status/1211294784339562497

United would have been disappointed to miss out on a talent like Haaland, especially given they have yet to sign a centre-forward to replace Romelu Lukaku, who joined Inter Milan in the summer.

However, Haaland appears to have made a sensible choice by moving to Dortmund, and it'll be fascinating to monitor the next steps in his young career. They will return to competitive football after the winter break on January 18, as they visit Augsburg in the Bundesliga.

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly ready to listen to offers for their winger Jadon Sancho, with Manchester United said to be in the hunt for the starlet.

According to Paul Hirst and Ian Whittell of The Times, the Bundesliga side are ready to sell the England international in the summer, with his current deal at the Westfalenstadion poised to expire at the end of the 2021-22 term.

"Dortmund are likely to ask for more than £100 million for him, and he will not be short of suitors. United, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Barcelona would all be interested in signing him," continued the report. "Under the terms of Sancho’s departure from City, they have the right to match any successful bid for him."

In the report, it's said the signing of Erling Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg for Dortmund is likely to have "repercussions for Sancho's future."

Sancho is reported to be "intrigued" by the prospect of a move to La Liga "but he would be interested in talking to United too."

Since moving to Dortmund from City in 2017, the youngster has made huge strides and is now regarded as one of the best prospects in European football. As such, it would be no surprise to see Dortmund hold out for a huge sum before selling.

Per Scouted Football, in terms of his productivity, the 19-year-old is making further improvements:

Jadon Sancho in the 2018-19 Bundesliga before the winter break:

• 17 appearances
• 6 goals
• 7 assists

Jadon Sancho in the 2019-20 Bundesliga before the winter break:

• 15 appearances
• 9 goals
• 9 assists

He's getting better. pic.twitter.com/5ZHHKp51vw

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) December 23, 2019

The Match of the Day Twitter account shared some of Sancho's numbers alongside a fine goal he scored for Mainz recently: 

https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/1206697454051221504

Dortmund have developed a reputation for being the home of some of European football's most talented young players. With that in mind, it's no surprise Haaland opted to make the switch to the German giants ahead of some other high-profile outfits.

Speaking to Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph, Haaland's agent, Mino Raiola, said the young forward was also a target for United, but he chose to make the switch to Dortmund instead.

In Sancho, United appear to be in the middle of the hunt for one of Europe's other top prospects. Bleacher Report's Rob Blanchette said he'd be happy to see the club spend big money on the winger:

McTominay's injury and Greenwood's form dictates #MUFC must now focus on a January midfield signings. Break the bank for Maddison & Sancho. Almost impossible to sign in Jan, but these are the player types Utd need to bolster the squad. Time for Woodward to do his job.

— Rob Blanchette (@_Rob_B) December 29, 2019

At this stage of his career, Sancho would potentially benefit from a move, as he's proven himself capable of shining in the German top flight, the UEFA Champions League and on the international stage too.

For United, securing his talents will be a challenge, especially with so many other clubs said to be interested. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be desperate to see his side qualify for the Champions League next term and give the club the best chance possible of landing the games' brightest rising stars.

Borussia Dortmund announced the signing of Erling Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg on Sunday on a contract that runs until June 2024.

🤔 Wer schreibt denn hier schon seine Wünsche für 2020 auf? pic.twitter.com/6rhGmVlMhs

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) December 29, 2019

The 19-year-old is one of Europe's most highly rated young strikers and has netted 16 goals in 14 league games for Salzburg and scored eight times in the UEFA Champions League in 2019-20.

Per Goal's Sam France, Dortmund paid €20 million (£17 million) for the teenager, who will link up with his new team-mates on January 3 before they head to Spain for a winter training camp.

Haaland was linked with several of Europe's top clubs prior to his move but said he had no doubts about joining the Bundesliga team, per the club's official website:

"I had several intense conversations with the club's management team, in particular with Hans-Joachim Watzke, Michael Zorc and coach Lucien Favre. 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."

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke spoke about how his club beat off competition from Europe's top teams to land the talented teenager: "Despite receiving numerous offers from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, Erling Haaland has decided that the best option for his career is to come and join our project here at BVB. Our persistence has paid off."

The 19-year-old will look to continue his upward trajectory at the German giants, who have a strong reputation for developing players and getting the best out of their youngsters.

Haaland will also add attacking power to Lucien Favre's side. He has been prolific both domestically and in Europe this term and has enjoyed a strong debut season in the UEFA Champions League:

😱 8 (EIGHT) goals in his first 5 #UCL games! Erling Braut Haaland 🔥🔥🔥@RedBullSalzburg | @ErlingHaaland pic.twitter.com/gXCEbYhJqR

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 5, 2019

Manchester United were reportedly interested in signing Haaland, but the Red Devils pulled out of the deal because of demands relating to a buyout clause and a percentage of future sales, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson:

Utd pulled out of E B Haaland deal due to demand from agent and father of player of future share of any sale and buyout clause, is the understanding. He’s now a Dortmund player...

— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) December 29, 2019

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer worked with the striker at Molde but played down rumours his club would sign the teenager before Christmas, per James Ducker at the Telegraph.

Bundesliga side RB Leipzig were also credited with an interest in the teenager, but the club's chief executive, Oliver Mintzlaff, told Sport1 that he expected his side to be priced out of a deal (h/t Tony Mogan at the Evening Standard).

The Independent's Melissa Reddy explained why she thinks Haaland made the right decision in joining Dortmund:

Very smart from Erling Haaland to follow the advice given to him by his family and Red Bull Salzburg to prioritise development above all else right now. A coup for Borussia Dortmund given RB Leipzig were in pole position for a while having made a big push for the teenager.

— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) December 29, 2019

Dortmund fans will be hoping to get their first glimpse of their new signing when Favre's men play a friendly against Feyenoord in Marbella on January 11. They take on FC Augsburg when the Bundesliga resumes a week later.