Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the signing of defensive midfielder Salih Ozcan from Koln. The transfer fee paid for the player is only €6 million, and he is the fourth confirmed signing for the Black and Yellow side ahead of the new season, resulting in a massive squad overhaul.
The 24-year-old has signed a four-year deal with Dortmund until June 2026. He is expected to be a replacement for Axel Witsel, who left the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 21/22 season.
Dortmund sign Salih Ozcan from Koln
“Cologne is my home club, to which I owe an awful lot. I would only have left my city for very few clubs,” said Salih Özcan. “Borussia Dortmund’s energy, which you can literally feel, plus the opportunity to play regularly in the Champions League, ultimately led me to my decision.
“I’m very happy to be able to develop further at BVB in front of more than 81,000 spectators and to be able to help the team with my way of playing football in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. I’m very ambitious and willing to invest everything for it.”
Ozcan represented Germany in their victorious 2021 U21 European Championship campaign, but has since switched over to Turkey. He spent 15 years with boyhood club Koln, helping them reach the Europa Conference League with a seventh placed finish this past season. And now, he will be playing Champions League football from next year.
