German defender Niklas Sule will join Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer when his contract at Bayern Munich expires this summer, the Bundesliga club announced Monday.

Sule's deal will be for four years.

"We are pleased that we were able to sign a German national player in Niklas Sule," Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said.

Bayern Munich confirmed in late January that Sule was set to depart after rejecting a contract offer to extend his stay in Bavaria.

Despite links to Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Barcelona, Sule has elected to stay in Germany to join Bayern's fiercest rivals.

Sule evolved into one of Germany's top defenders after joining Bayern Munich from Hoffenheim in 2017. He won the Bundesliga title four times and the Champions League once during his spell at Bayern.

The towering center-back has also made 37 appearances for the German national team since his debut in 2016.