Manchester United target Jude Bellingham has completed a move to Borussia Dortmund from the city of Birmingham for a fee sources told ESPN worth € 23 million, plus add-ons and a sales clause.
The 17-year-old had also been linked with Chelsea, Bayern Munich and United, but agreed to join Dortmund, as ESPN reported in June. The Bundesliga’s reputation for developing young talents, such as Ousmane Dembele, Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland, played an important role in the decision.
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Dortmund announced the deal with a video posted on Twitter of various players singing The Beatles song “Hey Jude”, having previously released a teaser clip of forward Julian Brandt playing the same tune on guitar.
“Jude Bellingham confidently chose BVB and, of course, he was primarily concerned with the sporting perspective we showed him,” said Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc. “He has enormous potential that we share we want to develop with him in the coming years.
“He already has a surprising amount of quality in his own possession, as well as against the ball, and on top of that, the player also has a strong mindset. We immediately see Jude as a booster for our professional team, but of course we do too. It will give you time to get used to the higher level. “
Bellingham added: “I cannot thank the city of Birmingham enough for what the club did for me, not just this season, but since I came to the club when I was seven years old. Now I am really excited to join one of the oldest great clubs in Europe. BVB’s journey, but especially how they help young players improve, made the decision very easy for me and my whole family. I am looking forward to playing in one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world ” .
As ESPN reported in March, Bellingham had been on Dortmund’s radar since the 2018-19 season and he was convinced to join the club earlier this year.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also hoping to land the young man, especially after a visit to Carrington training camp before the coronavirus pandemic. At around the same time, Bellingham also visited Chelsea’s Cobham training camp, but Dortmund eventually won the race for the England youth international.
The versatile midfielder and his reps were reportedly impressed with Sancho’s development at the Westfalenstadion and will also play alongside Haaland and United States teenager Gio Reyna.
🎸 Na na na na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na …
#HeyJude pic.twitter.com/U8y7lyVJUv– Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) July 20, 2020
Forward Youssoufa Moukoko, 15, will also be eligible to play on the senior team when he turns 16 on November 20.
The striker’s debut is highly anticipated after he scored 34 goals in 20 league appearances for the U19 team in the 2019-20 season. He also scored four goals in seven UEFA Youth League matches.
Dortmund already signed with Thomas Meunier of Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, but winger Achraf Hakimi left to join Inter Milan on a permanent transfer after two successful years on loan from Real Madrid.
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