MY ACCOUNT
Erling Haaland believes Manchester City’s style of play is “perfect” for him after the Premier League champions officially confirmed his impending arrival.
The Norwegian scoring sensation, 21, will join the Citizens on July 1, penning a five-year deal at the Etihad after leaving Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund.
The deal was originally agreed in principle last month, when City activated Haaland’s £51.2million release clause.
The prolific striker told the club’s website: “This is a proud day for me and my family.
“I have always watched City and have loved doing so in recent seasons. 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.
“There are so many world-class players in this squad and Pep [Guardiola] is one of the greatest managers of all time, so I believe I am in the right place to fulfil my ambitions.
“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.”
Following in the footsteps of his father Alf-Inge, who played for City between 2000 and 2003, Haaland will hope to further enhance his reputation as one of world football’s most lethal finishers.
He joins a City side who netted 99 goals on their way to the Premier League title last term despite playing the majority of their games without an out-and-out centre forward.
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “We have been monitoring Erling for several years now, so we are delighted to bring him here to Manchester City.
“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.
“Erling has everything we want in a striker and we are certain he will excel in this squad and this system.
“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.”
