Dortmund signing Dembele in French under-21 squad

Paris, May 13, 2016 (AFP) - Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year Ousmane Dembele was called up on Friday for the French Under-21 squad to face Italy in a friendly on June 2.

The 18-year-old winger signed a five-year deal to join Borussia Dortmund from Rennes on Thursday, with the German Bundesliga club describing him as "one of Europe's most sought after talents".

Dembele has been a revelation for Rennes this season, scoring 12 goals and adding five assists since making his debut in November.

The Bundesliga side did not give a figure for the deal, but German media said the fee was in the region of €15 million.

British media had earlier reported that Liverpool was ready to make a blockbuster offer, but the player had his heart set on Dortmund.

France Under-21's take on Italy in Venice on June 2 in a memorial match for an Italian, Valeria Solesin, who died in the Paris terror attacks in November.

Her death moved a lot of people in Italy, with one magazine, l'Espresso, going so far as to name her their 'person of the year' for 2015.