Dortmund signs rebellious teen prodigy Jadon Sancho from City
Jadon Sancho got his desired move away from Manchester City, with the 17-year-old finalising a switch to Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.
Dortmund was just one of the numerous European sides looking to sign the prodigious talent.
The teenager, who was left out of City's squad for the club's pre-season tour of the United States, had reportedly been absent for multiple training sessions this summer as he contemplated his future. Worried about a potential lack of first-team opportunities at the Etihad, Sancho turned down a professional contract with the Premier League side, which put the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester United on notice.
But City's reluctance to sell Sancho to a direct rival helped facilitate the move to Dortmund, a club with a strong history of fostering young talent.
German outlet kicker reports that Dortmund paid €7 million to procure the services of Sancho, who inherited the No. 7 shirt vacated by newly-minted Barcelona man Ousmane Dembele.
🤝 Der BVB verpflichtet Toptalent Jadon #Sancho (17) von @ManCity! // Borussia Dortmund sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester City! pic.twitter.com/sQdseX0ulO
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) August 31, 2017
"We are delighted that Jadon Sancho, currently one of the biggest talents in European football, by all means wants to and will play for BVB," Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said of the deal.
"We are convinced that we can help this still very young player to develop his game and be an asset for our team in the middle-term."