News Focus
- Borussia Dortmund agree personal terms with Joane Gadou
- French defender set to join Bundesliga club this summer
- Transfer fee could rise to €26 million including bonuses
- Medical examination remains before contract signature
- 19-year-old played 33 matches for RB Salzburg this season
Borussia Dortmund have struck a deal to sign defender Joane Gadou from RB Salzburg. The German club and the French teenager have agreed on a long-term contract. The move will happen when the summer transfer window opens.
The 19-year-old centre-back will move to the Bundesliga after successful talks between the player and Dortmund officials. The exact length of his contract has not been made public yet. However, sources close to the deal say it will keep him at the club for several years.
Dortmund and Salzburg are now finalising the last details of the transfer. Only a medical test stands between the player and the official announcement. Both clubs expect to complete the paperwork soon.
The total cost for Dortmund will be around €20 million upfront. The Austrian side will receive an extra €4 to €6 million if certain conditions are met. Salzburg have also secured a large percentage of any future sale.
Football journalist Florian Plettenberg praised the move. He said Dortmund’s new sporting director Ole Book has made an excellent signing. The deal shows the club’s trust in young talent.
Gadou has played 33 matches for Salzburg across all competitions this term. He has spent over 2,720 minutes on the pitch. The defender started his career in France before moving to Austria.