The former Borussia Dortmund striker has joined the English club on a contract that runs until at least 2027
The reigning Premier League champions Manchester City have announced the signing of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland on a five-year contract.
An agreement to acquire the 21-year-old from Borussia Dortmund was signed in May after City activated their £ 51.2 million ($ 62.5 million) release clause.
But on Monday, with Haaland newly started in a 3-2 Nations League victory over Sweden for his country, the son of the former Sky Blues player Alfie Haaland has finally been revealed by the Abu Dhabi-supported giants.
In an interview with the club’s official site, lifelong City fan Erling Haaland spoke of a “proud day” for him and his family.
“I’ve always seen City and have loved to do so in recent seasons. You can not help but admire their style of play, it’s exciting and they create many chances, which is perfect for a player like me.” he added.
Haaland stated that he believes he is in the right place to fulfill his ambitions given that they exist “so many world-class players” in the City squad commanded by “one of the best managers of all time” and Pep Guardiola.
Above all, Haaland wants “score goals, win trophies and improve yourself as a football player”and is confident he can do it at the Etihad.
“This is a great move for me and I can not wait to get started in the preseason,” he concluded.
Made an astonishing 86 times in 89 games for Dortmund, Haaland, which City described as one of the world’s “most coveted forwards”should manage to find the goals he longs for in the north west of England plus the silverware also given that City have won four of the last five Premier League titles on offer.
The city’s football director Txiki Begiristain said the club had been monitoring Haaland “for several years now”and called him a “great talent” it has been one of Europe’s best strikers in recent seasons.
City, who point to his goal record, have been impressed by his performance in the Champions League and said he has “everything we want in a striker”.
The arrival of Haaland ends City’s search for a long-term successor to the club’s top scorer Sergio Aguero, who left last summer before being forced to retire after a heart attack at FC Barcelona.
It could also accelerate the expected departure of Gabriel Jesus, who has been linked with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea.
With Haaland still not assigned a number, he can take the Brazilian national team player’s number ‘9’ before the start of the 2022/2023 season if Jesus really resigns.
On Twitter, English legend and savvy Gary Lineker noted that Haaland’s recruitment is one “the most important moment for the Premier League” as, for the first time, a young superstar “searched by all” has chosen an English outfit over “Spanish giants” like Real Madrid or Barcelona.
When Kylian Mbappe says no to Los Blancos to renew the conditions at PSG until 2025, it is easy to see why new money clubs such as Parisians and City are considered a threat to the balance of power in European elite football.
Source: sn.dk