Nottingham Forest will be coming up against Erling Haaland next season after the striker's move to Manchester City was confirmed.
The reigning Premier League champions announced on Monday the highly-rated 21-year-old striker wIll join them on July 1, after signing a five-year contract at the club. It is understood that the player will cost a fee of £51.1million after City triggered his release clause.
A City statement read: “Manchester City are delighted to confirm the signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. The 21-year-old will join the Club on 1 July after penning a five-year deal which keeps him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2027."
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Nottingham Forest will come up against Haaland next term after securing their place back in the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. A 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium last month secured their place back in the division for the first time in 23 years.
Norwegian international Haaland is the son of Alf-Inge Haaland, whose own playing career included spells with Forest, Leeds United and Man City. As a result, Haaland junior apparently has something of a soft spot for all three clubs, having been born in Leeds and spending his first few years in England before moving to Norway.
During an interview with talkSPORT in 2019, his father revealed: “He was a Leeds fan and a City fan and a Nottingham Forest fan – he followed me obviously, but that is what you do in your youth. It is different being a supporter and having a job."
His son's impending transfer ends City’s long search for a specialist centre forward, having failed in a high-profile attempt to prise Harry Kane away from Tottenham after Sergio Aguero left the club last summer. Haaland boasts impressive credentials having scored a remarkable 85 goals in 88 appearances for Dortmund since moving from RB Salzburg in January 2020.
With other clubs, notably Real Madrid, having been linked with the Norway international, City reportedly feel the deal represents “unbelievable value” for a player who could otherwise command a fee in the £150-200m bracket. It is understood the transfer fee will be paid in instalments and Haaland’s salary will not break City’s existing wage structure.
Speaking after his move to the Etihad Stadium was confirmed, Haaland said: "I was born in England, I've been a City fan my whole life, I know a lot about the club. I think two things: I feel at home here and also I think I can develop and get the best out of my game at City."
Forest will find out when they will take on Haaland and City when the Premier League fixtures are released at 9am on Thursday, 16 June. It means that Reds fans have just a few days to wait.
