Borussia Dortmund have officially announced the signing of 19-year-old center-back Joan Gadou this summer on a five-year contract.

Borussia Dortmund announced on Tuesday that they have confirmed the signing of Red Bull Salzburg centre-back Joan Gadou this summer. The two sides have signed a five-year contract, valid until June 30, 2031.

Gadou's contract with RB Salzburg was originally set to expire in 2027. His transfer fee was €19.5 million plus €4.5 million in add-ons, with an additional 10% commission on any subsequent transfer.

After completing the transfer, Gadu said: "I am very happy to join the Borussia Dortmund family and can't wait to wear the black and yellow jersey. I hope to achieve great things with my teammates, the whole club and our amazing fans in the coming years."

"I think Borussia Dortmund is one of the greatest clubs in the world. The club has an extraordinary spirit."

"My goals after joining Dortmund? Personally, I want to be the best version of myself. I also want to win as many titles as possible and play as many games for the club. That's my dream."

The 19-year-old Gadou is from France and began his football career at Paris Saint-Germain's youth academy. Since joining RB Salzburg for €10 million in 2024, he has made 58 appearances in all competitions, but has yet to score or assist.

Regarding Gadou's arrival, Borussia Dortmund's sporting director Lars Ricken explained: "We've known Joan for a long time, following him since his time at Paris Saint-Germain. Joan will strengthen our squad and play a vital role at the start of the new season. We have full confidence in his abilities and see his enormous potential on the pitch."

Another sporting director, Niels-Ole Booker, said: "Joan is a modern and physically strong center-back. He is excellent at organizing attacks, extremely fast, and still has room for improvement. Joan's abilities make him an ideal addition to our defense."

Image source: Internet/Borussia Dortmund official website