Manchester City confirm agreement in principle to sign Dortmund's Haaland

Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund to sign forward Erling Haaland this summer, the Premier League club announced Tuesday.

The transfer remains dependent on Manchester City agreeing to contract terms with the 21-year-old.

It’s understood that Haaland will sign a five-year deal worth £375,000 a week – the same amount as City’s highest earner, Kevin De Bruyne.

Haaland is set to officially join the Premier League side in July after Manchester City reportedly triggered the release clause in his Dortmund contract. Initial reports suggested that the clause is worth €75 million, but BBC Sport’s Simon Stone reports that City will only pay €60 million for one of football’s most highly coveted players.

Haaland first made international headlines when he scored nine goals in Norway’s runaway 12-0 victory over Honduras at the U-20 World Cup in May 2019. Then 18, the striker scored four times before the half and added five in the second.

Red Bull Salzburg had already signed the talented Norwegian by then. He ripped up the Champions League in his debut season, scoring in each of his first five appearances in the group stage. He spent just two seasons with Salzburg, opting to leave for Dortmund in December 2019 amid reported interest from Manchester United and Juventus.

Haaland continued to flourish into one of the sport’s top players at Dortmund. The 21-year-old – who’s set to form the sport’s next great individual rivalry with French star and World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe – has 85 goals in 88 appearances for the German club.

He joins a City team that is already one of the most prolific in world football.

City had spent the last year searching for a long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero, who left on a free transfer last summer before retiring at 33 years old with a heart-related issue. The reigning champions reportedly offered £100 million for Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane following reports last May that the 28-year-old wanted to leave the north London side. Ultimately, Tottenham decided to reject all bids under £150 million for Kane, who had recently renewed his contract until June 2024.

City entered the current season with Gabriel Jesus as the only recognizable center-forward in their ranks. Instead, Guardiola relied on false nines and goals from midfield to keep his side competitive. Even without a defined striker, City have scored a Premier League-leading 89 goals this season, more than they totaled the previous campaign.

They’ll look even scarier with Haaland, a towering figure at 6-foot-4 who can dominate the penalty area and lead counterattacks with devastating pace. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Alf-Inge, who played briefly for City from 2000-03.