Manchester City have reached a deal to sign Norwegian striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
The Premier League club said in a statement: “Manchester City can confirm we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the Club on 1st July 2022.
“The transfer remains subject to the Club finalising terms with the player.”
City boss Pep Guardiola had refused to answer questions about Haaland at his news conference earlier.
The Spaniard said: “Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City have told me I am not allowed to say anything until the deal is completely done. I cannot talk, I am sorry. We will have time to talk.”
Haaland, 21, had informed Dortmund he intended to leave at the end of the season, Sky Germany reported.
His contract with the northwest German club included a €75m (£64m) release clause.
Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano informed Dortmund boss Hans-Joachim Watzke last week that City were ready to activate that clause, which stipulated that Haaland’s fee had to be made in one payment, Sky Sports News said.
Other major transfers have happened in instalments.
Haaland has scored 85 goals in 88 matches for Dortmund since joining from RB Salzburg in January 2020.
He was one of the world’s most coveted young players, with a number of clubs believed to have been interested in securing his signature.
Dortmund’s last game of the season is Saturday’s home match against Hertha Berlin.
Manchester City have previously been accused of “financial doping” after spending vast sums of money to establish themselves as one of the premier sides in European football since being purchased by the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) in 2008.
ADUG is owned by Sheikh Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi Royal Family and minister of presidential affairs for the UAE.
Despite leaks of internal documents suggesting the Abu Dhabi government manages ADUG’s accounts, the group has insisted it is separate.
