The first bomb of the market: Haaland signs with City!

Manchester City’s signing of Norwegian player Erling Haaland is close to being finalized, and the club will make it official this week, according to reports in the main English media. The Borussia Dortmund striker has long been Pep Guardiola's first target, and after losing against Real Madrid in the Champions League, City wants to make a splash by activating the player's release clause of around €75 million.

Dortmund gave Haaland the day off on Monday, and the 21-year-old underwent medical tests in Brussels, Belgium. Dortmund confirmed that Erling had been allowed to "take care of his personal business" as his move to Manchester comes closer. The formalities have yet to be sorted out, but the Norwegian striker's imminent move to the Etihad Stadium is expected to be confirmed later in the week. Haaland, who has scored 85 goals in 88 appearances, will bid farewell to Dortmund fans after next Saturday's final Bundesliga game of the season against Hertha Berlin.

🤝 Acuerdo cerrado: Haaland jugará en el Manchester CIty
📅 Esta semana se conocerá de manera oficial su fichaje por el club 'citizen'

📰 Informa The Athletic pic.twitter.com/oD33znqBo2

— Diario AS (@diarioas) May 9, 2022

The Athletic reported last month that City had reached an agreement with Haaland's representatives, who will become the highest-paid player in the Premier League with a salary of more than £500,000 a week, by signing a five-year contract. Negotiations between City and Borussia have gone smoothly, and the Bundesliga club is waiting for confirmation of the €75 million payment to activate his release clause.

Erling Haaland to Manchester City, here we go! Haaland has passed medical tests as new Man City player today, he’s back in Dortmund. It will be OFFICIAL this week 🚨🔵 #MCFC

Man City told BVB board that they will activate release clause [closer to €60m than €75m] in few hours. pic.twitter.com/heYobi8S1Y

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 9, 2022

With a hefty transfer fee and fees to be paid by Haaland's representatives, managed by the late Mino Raiola's team, the transfer price could approach €115 million. The Norwegian is one of the most prolific goal scorers in world soccer and has been linked with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United in recent months. However, he has opted for the reigning English champions and the team of his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, who spent three seasons at Manchester City during his playing career.

🗞️Fuentes a ESPN aseguran que el Manchester City tiene todo previsto para anunciar el fichaje de Haaland en los próximos días.

*Guardiola finalmente tendría el 9 de área que tanto ha buscado....

Todos los detalles 🔽https://t.co/5NqKaWqQfs pic.twitter.com/vKAU5ueeBy

— Fuera de Juego (@ESPN_FDJ) May 9, 2022

He could make his debut in City's colors during their pre-season tour of the United States, with a match against the Mexican America team scheduled for July 21 in Houston. Pep Guardiola, after another Champions League failure in losing dramatically to Real Madrid in the semi-final, will be bolstered by the signing of a reliable goal-scoring center forward, something they currently lack.

City failed in their bid to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham last summer as the club refused to accept the €175 million price tag imposed by Spurs owner Daniel Levy. Now the signing of Haaland has proved that Guardiola needed a world-class striker in his squad.