Manchester City confirmed a deal to sign from Erling Haaland Borussia Dortmund this summer. The condition to buy the striker, which is understood to be €60m (£51.5m), has been met and the Norway international will earn £375,000 a week, plus bonuses.
Haaland went through a medical examination this week, and the deal ends, Pep Guardiola searches for a long-term successor to City’s record scorer, Sergio Aguero. Haaland, who will turn 22 in July, has scored 85 goals in 88 games for Dortmund, who he joined from RB Salzburg in January 2020.
“Manchester City can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund On the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the club on July 1, 2022. “The transfer remains subject to the club’s final terms with the player.”
City are delighted to beat clubs including Real Madrid to sign one of the best strikers in Europe, who they believe will improve in the coming years. Haaland chose City over similar financial offers due to his desire to play under Guardiola and test himself in the Premier League.
And Guardiola warned, on Tuesday, against the idea that Haaland would solve all Manchester City’s goal-scoring needs. “New players always help to try to be a stronger team, but a good defender will not solve our defensive problems, and a striker will not solve the scoring problems we may have,” said the coach. “Not me, the club should have a vision for the future. I am always fully aware and 100% supportive.”
The Haaland family has attended a number of matches at the Etihad Stadium this season in preparation for the move. Born in Leeds, Haaland will follow in the footsteps of his father Alf Inge, who spent three years with City at the turn of the century. “He can score right and left through counter-attacks inside the penalty area,” Guardiola said of Haaland last year. “He’s a great striker, everyone knows that.”
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The signing would be a boost for the team that missed out on the Champions League final after their dramatic exit from Real Madrid last week. Haaland scored 21 goals in 17 Champions League matches, and it is hoped that he will help City win the title after the club lost last season’s final to Chelsea.
City need seven points from their three remaining Premier League games, starting at Wolverhampton on Wednesday, to ensure Guardiola wins the league title for the fourth time in six years with Guardiola. Guardiola has problems in defense with Robin Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker who will be out of the squad until the end of the season. Midfielder Fernandinho is expected to start at the center of defense at Molino.
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