Borussia Dortmund have signed 19-year-old defender Joane Gadou from Red Bull Salzburg, the Bundesliga team said in a statement on Tuesday.
The French player has signed a contract until 2031. According to media reports, Dortmund paid a transfer fee of around €20 million plus potential bonuses.
That was roughly the amount Dortmund paid Salzburg in early 2020 for then 19-year-old striker Erling Haaland. In 2022, Dortmund sold Haaland to Manchester City for €60 million ($70.4 million).
"Joane is a modern and physically strong centre-back. He has good build-up play, is extremely quick and still has room for development. Joane's abilities make him an ideal addition to our defence," Dortmund sporting director Ole Book said.
Gadou came through the Paris Saint-Germain youth academy and won the French championship with the under-19 team in 2024.
In September 2024, he moved to Salzburg, where he made 58 competitive appearances.
"I'm absolutely delighted to be joining the Dortmund family. I want to achieve success in the coming years together with my team-mates, the whole club and our incredible fans," Gadou said.
