Borussia Dortmund have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich to sign Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer.
Following his loan spell with Manchester United in the second half of the season, it appears that Sabitzer will now have a permanent place to call home in the Bundesliga.
Sabitzer will now be joining Dortmund after Manchester United chose not to extend the versatile midfielder’s loan contract, according to reports.
Erik ten Hag decided to sign the 29-year-old player in January to provide cover for Cristian Eriksen, who was unable to play for three months due to an ankle injury.
Although the Dutch manager still holds admiration for the Austrian player, the Red Devils have decided to explore other options to bolster their midfield.
As a result, they have chosen to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea.
According to recent reports from Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenberg, Edin Terzic’s team is expected to pay approximately €19 million for the deal.
Today, July 24th, the Italian football journalist reported that the transfer of Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern Munich to Borussia Dortmund has been confirmed and is now finalized.
According to Romano, a €19 million package has been agreed upon, which includes additional add-ons.
If everything goes as planned, the player is expected to sign a long-term deal later this week.
Florian Plettenberg provided additional information on the deal, indicating that Sabitzer is expected to sign a contract with Dortmund that will run until 2027.
Furthermore, it is planned that the deal will be finalized between Monday, July 24th to Tuesday, July 25th.
Sabitzer has primarily played in the Bundesliga throughout his career, representing both RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg.
Sabitzer signed with Bayern in 2021 for a transfer fee of £13m.
He faced difficulties securing a spot in Bayern’s starting lineup, only managing to make 54 appearances before being loaned out to United in January.
During his short time at United, Sabitzer played a total of 18 matches for Manchester United in various competitions.
Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury towards the end of the season, which forced him to miss their final four matches.
Meanwhile, Dortmund are currently seeking to bolster their midfield after the departure of Jude Bellingham, who recently made a significant £113m transfer to Real Madrid.
Sabitzer is being considered a strong option to replace Bellingham, given his versatility to play in various positions within the midfield.
Who is Marcel Sabitzer?
Marcel Sabitzer is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Austria national team.
He is the son of former Austria international Herfried Sabitzer and the cousin of footballer Thomas Sabitzer.
Marcel Sabitzer’s club career
Sabitzer started his professional career in Austria, playing for Admira Wacker and Rapid Wien.
In 2014, he became a member of the German club RB Leipzig and was promptly loaned to Red Bull Salzburg for a season.
Sabitzer accumulated over 200 appearances for RB Leipzig before being signed by Bayern Munich in August 2021 for a reported transfer fee of €16 million.
In his club career, the 29-year-old has participated in a total of 508 matches, during which he has scored 126 goals and provided 82 assists.
Sabitzer’s international career
Sabitzer has represented Austria at various youth international levels and made his senior international debut at the age of 18 in June 2012.
He has accumulated more than 70 caps for Austria and has participated in both UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2020.
