It’s official! City sign Haaland

LONDON – Manchester City have announced the capture of Erling Haaland, paying £51 million for the Borussia Dortmund superstar.

Pep Guardiola had wanted to discuss the 21-year-old’s impending move at his news conference earlier in the day but said both clubs had asked him not to.

City released a statement two hours later – which read that they have ‘an agreement in principle with Dortmund’ – and have now sealed the prodigious striker ahead of next season. The Premier League champions beat Real Madrid to his signature and were expected to part with £63 million to trigger a release clause in his contract.

But they have secured Haaland for £12m less than that figure – similar finance to Barcelona’s signing of Ferran Torres in January.

The Norway international, who has plundered 85 goals in 88 appearances for Dortmund, is set to earn around £400 000 a week over the course of a long-term contract.

That puts Haaland in the highest bracket of earners among Guardiola’s squad and around the same level as talisman Kevin De Bruyne.

City have negotiated with Haaland’s father, former player

Alfie, and Lawyer Rafaela Pimenta. Agency fees and bonuses will take the outlay to £85 million.

A club statement read: “Manchester City can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the Club on July 1, 2022.

Haaland was afforded time off by Dortmund on Monday and the 21-year-old was understood to have undergone medical tests in Brussels.

Sportsmail understands a deal between City and Haaland’s camp was completed last week, with the Norway international expected to earn around £400 000 a week.

(Source: Daily Mail) It was reported in the aftermath of the dramatic game that a number of Thomas Tuchel’s squad were unhappy at being called in at the weekend for a light session. And the manager has now confirmed that was indeed the case, although he has defended his decision and revealed he was keen to avoid splinters breaking out during their game against Wolves, but said their altercation ‘started and ended in the first half’. There have been widespread reports that the two men have fallen out, after full back Alonso was taken off at half-time at Stamford Bridge for tactical reasons.