Borussia Dortmund sign Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer from league rival Bayern Munich

DORTMUND, Germany: Borussia Dortmund signed Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer from Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich on Monday, boosting their options following Jude Bellingham’s departure for Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old Sabitzer signed a contract through June 2027 and will travel on Tuesday to the US to join his new teammates on Dortmund’s summer tour.

”He fits the profile that we were looking for exactly — a central midfielder who will strengthen us both defensively and offensively as a box-to-box player,” Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said. “Marcel is physically strong and also carries an immense goal threat. We’re convinced that he will also become an important pillar of our team thanks to his personality and will help us to be even more effective, especially in hard-fought matches.”

Dortmund were reportedly paying Bayern €15-20 million ($17-22 million) for the midfielder.

Sabitzer starred for Leipzig before following coach Julian Nagelsmann to Bayern in 2021. But he failed to find his place in Bayern’s star-filled midfield and was ultimately loaned to Manchester United for the second half of last season.

Sabitzer managed only two goals in 53 competitive appearances for Bayern — 54 including the German Super Cup — and the same again in 14 English Premier League and Europa League appearances for United.

Sabitzer is Dortmund’s second reinforcement in midfield after the signing of Felix Nmecha from Wolfsburg to compensate for Bellingham’s departure. The club replaced left back Raphael Guerreiro, who joined Bayern, with Ramy Bensebaini from Borussia Mönchengladbach.