Borussia Dortmund have already replaced Erling Haaland by snapping up RB Salzburg hotshot Karim Adeyemi - despite Manchester United's late attempt to hijack the deal.
Dortmund have been braced for the departure of Haaland, who is on the verge of wrapping up a £51million transfer to Manchester City. The Premier League champions have beaten off stiff competition to land the 21-year-old striker, who has notched 85 goals in just 88 games during his time in Germany.
But Dortmund have wasted no time in sourcing a replacement, and the club confirmed Adeyemi's arrival just one hour after Haaland's exit was announced on Tuesday afternoon. The 20-year-old striker has penned a five-year-deal and will be tied to the German club until the summer of 2027.
Adeyemi has been in sizzling form for Salzburg and as attracted the attention of a host of European heavyweights over the past few months. Liverpool were repeatedly linked with a move for the German international, while Adeyemi's agent revealed earlier this week that the striker had snubbed late interest from Manchester United to pursue a move to Dortmund.
"We’re now close to completing the deal with Borussia Dortmund," he said earlier this week. "There will be no release clause included into his five-year deal. Rangnick? Yes, Manchester United wanted to enter the race - but we want BVB."
After ignoring interest from clubs elsewhere, Adeyemi will now follow directly in the footsteps of Haaland, who was also plucked from Salzburg by Dortmund back in 2020.
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The Salzburg starlet - who has bagged 23 goals in 42 games this term and is currently the leading scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga - could hardly hide his delight after signing for Dortmund and insisted that he was never interested in joining anybody else.
Adeyemi told Borussia Dortmund's website : “As a young boy I was fascinated by the Black & Yellows’ fast-paced football. That’s why, as soon as I heard Dortmund were interested in me, I knew I wanted to sign with BVB. I made the conscious decision to sign a long-term deal because I’m convinced that we’re going to form an exciting team, that with the support of the amazing fans in Dortmund will be able to compete for and win titles in the years to come.’’
Adeyemi is the third signing that Dortmund have made already ahead of the summer as Marco Rose's new-look side begins to take shape. Niklas Sule and Nico Sclotterbeck have already arrived at the Westfalenstadion.
