Dortmund sign Germany defender Suele from Bayern on free transfer

Borussia Dortmund confirmed on Monday the signing of Germany defender Niklas Suele on a free transfer from rivals and Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich for next season. "We are pleased that we were able to sign a German national player in Niklas Suele and retain him for four years," Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc said in a statement.

Bayern had already confirmed last month that Suele would leave at the end of the season when his contract expires having turned down an extension. Dortmund, who trail Bayern by nine points in the Bundesliga table, have pulled off a coup by signing the towering 26-year-old centre back.

Suele has made 159 appearances for Bayern since they signed him from Hoffenheim in 2017 for 20 million euros ($22.5 million). He is set to be a key player for Germany at the World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off in November.