English Premier League champions Manchester City have bolstered their strikeforce with the signing of Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian hitman joins the Citizens from Borussia Dortmund and says he is
proud of joining the EPL giants under experienced manager Pep Guardiola.
Haaland was unveiled by the English side on Monday, saying he aims to bang in
more goals and win trophies for his new club.
Guardiola’s men announced in May that they had beaten off competition from
Europe’s top clubs to land a deal with the German Bundesliga giants after and they triggered a whopping $63 million transfer clause.
The 21-year-old striker penned a five-year contract to follow in the footsteps of his father Alfie Inge Haaland, who played for City between 2000 and 2003.
“This is a proud day for me and my family. I have always watched City and have
loved doing so in recent seasons,” said Haaland.
“I want to score goals, win trophies, and improve as a footballer and I am confident I can do that here. This is a great move for me, and I can’t wait to get started in pre-season.”
It is reported that Haaland’s arrival at Etihad Stadium ends a long search for a top striker as the lanky star will fill the void left by Argentina’s Sergio Aguero, who left the club last year.
Haaland netted 23 goals out of 19 UEFA Champions League appearances for
Dortmund and RB Salzburg, he will be expected to get City over the line when it
matters most in Europe.
“There are so many world-class players in this squad and Pep is one of the greatest managers of all time, so I believe I am in the right place to fulfill my ambitions,” he added.
“You can’t help but admire their style of play, it’s exciting and they create a lot of
chances, which is perfect for a player like me.”
Praising the Norwegian’s abilities, City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said they are pleased to have lured the tall goal poacher.
“His rise has been remarkable, but he is still only 21. His best years are ahead of
him, and we are confident he can get even better working with Pep,” said
Begiristain.
“He is a huge talent and has been one of the best strikers in Europe over the last
few seasons.
“His goalscoring record is exceptional and his performances at Borussia Dortmund
and in the Champions League, in particular, have proved he can succeed at the
highest level
Article by: Phumzile Ngcatshe
