Beckham7
01-04-2002, 05:44 AM
Sebastian Kehl has finally completed his transfer from Freiburg to Borussia Dortmund and will train with his new team-mates on Friday.
The Germany midfielder had agreed to join Bayern Munich in the summer and caused uproar in December when he back-tracked and said he wanted to join BVB instead.
It was then believed the 21-year-old would join Matthias Sammer's side at the end of the season – but the recent upheaval has convinced him to leave Freiburg straight away. Kehl said : "Nothing is signed yet, but I will be in Dortmund on Friday."
BVB financial director Michael Meier added: "We have finally reached an agreement with Freiburg and the player will be with us shortly. Kehl wanted to end the ongoing dispute and therefore opted for a transfer during the winter break."
Kehl, regarded as the most promising German defensive midfielder of his generation, is expected to sign a four-and-a-half year deal at the Westfalenstadion.
Freiburg will receive a transfer fee of £2 million – way short of his true valuation, but more than they could realistically expect in the summer, when Kehl's contract would have expired.
Bayern have demanded that Dortmund pay them compensation, but BVB president Dr Gerd Niebaum, also a lawyer, said on Thursday: "We won't pay anything to Bayern. They are on the wrong track and Sebastian has no need to fear a possible court appeal."
Kehl was a Germany Under-21 star when he left second-division Hannover 96 in summer 2000, turning down offers from well-established Bundesliga sides to join Volker Finke's young and multi-cultural side, where he was guaranteed first-team football.
His early weeks at the club were blighted by injury, but once the tall Kehl had regained his fitness, he stabilised the Freiburg defence and helped his side qualify for Europe.
The Germany midfielder had agreed to join Bayern Munich in the summer and caused uproar in December when he back-tracked and said he wanted to join BVB instead.
It was then believed the 21-year-old would join Matthias Sammer's side at the end of the season – but the recent upheaval has convinced him to leave Freiburg straight away. Kehl said : "Nothing is signed yet, but I will be in Dortmund on Friday."
BVB financial director Michael Meier added: "We have finally reached an agreement with Freiburg and the player will be with us shortly. Kehl wanted to end the ongoing dispute and therefore opted for a transfer during the winter break."
Kehl, regarded as the most promising German defensive midfielder of his generation, is expected to sign a four-and-a-half year deal at the Westfalenstadion.
Freiburg will receive a transfer fee of £2 million – way short of his true valuation, but more than they could realistically expect in the summer, when Kehl's contract would have expired.
Bayern have demanded that Dortmund pay them compensation, but BVB president Dr Gerd Niebaum, also a lawyer, said on Thursday: "We won't pay anything to Bayern. They are on the wrong track and Sebastian has no need to fear a possible court appeal."
Kehl was a Germany Under-21 star when he left second-division Hannover 96 in summer 2000, turning down offers from well-established Bundesliga sides to join Volker Finke's young and multi-cultural side, where he was guaranteed first-team football.
His early weeks at the club were blighted by injury, but once the tall Kehl had regained his fitness, he stabilised the Freiburg defence and helped his side qualify for Europe.