Transfer Centre

Borussia Dortmund chief rules out January Erling Braut Haaland exit

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 19 December 2021

Dortmund chief rules out January Haaland exit

Borussia Dortmund chief Michael Zorc rules out the possibility of Erling Braut Haaland leaving the club in January, despite the striker seemingly bidding farewell to fans.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has ruled out the possibility of Erling Braut Haaland leaving the club during the January transfer window.

Dortmund suffered a damaging 3-2 defeat at Hertha Berlin in their final game of the year on Saturday, with the Bundesliga now entering the winter break.

BVB's last home game of 2021 saw them beat Greuther Furth 3-0, with Haaland scoring a brace, and after that game the 21-year-old was seen waving to all four sides of the ground.

There have been suggestions that the gesture was Haaland bidding farewell to the fans, but Zorc insists that the striker will be going nowhere in January and could even stay at the club beyond the summer.

"I asked him what was behind the gesture and he answered nothing at all," Zorc told Sky Sports Deutschland.

"Of course he will stay. Of course we would like him to stay at Dortmund in the summer. We don't have to give him up, not for financial reasons either.

"But we also know that under certain conditions he has the opportunity to change [clubs] and we will certainly have talks with him in the coming weeks.

"We have a long-term contract with him, so he has to act first and not us. Everything would be fine for Dortmund if it stays that way."

Haaland, who is wanted by almost every top club in Europe, has a £68m release clause in his contract which is expected to be triggered next summer.