German giants Borussia Dortmund have officially found a replacement for summer signing Sébastien Haller after completing a move for 1.FC Köln’s veteran hitman Anthony Modeste.
Modeste, 34, has a fantastic 2021-22 campaign along the Rhein with Köln where he bagged 20 goals in the Bundesliga, outshone by only Robert Lewandowski (35), Patrick Schick (24), and Erling Haaland (22) while sitting level with Christopher Nkunku.
The agreement between both clubs was reported yesterday after the club had made the decision to look for an immediate replacement for Haller who is currently undergoing treatment after medical tests discovered a testicular tumor. As such, Haller is out indefinitely, with Dortmund needing a new frontline striker for 2022-23 if they are to hopefully push for the Meisterschale this season.
Dortmund has only shelled out just €5m for the center-forward, who has signed on to a one-year deal at the Westfalenstadion, without getting in the way of the long-term development of Karim Adeyemi (signed from RB Salzburg this summer), and club starlet Youssoufa Moukoko.
The big striker headed home ten goals last season for the RheinEnergieSTADION outfit, the most headed goals scored in the Bundesliga during the data collection era (starting in 2004-05) since former Dortmund and Czech Republic international Jan Koller scored eleven.
Modeste extended his thanks to his former club, stating; “I am very grateful to Köln for the wonderful and successful time. Nevertheless, I have now decided to make a change. The offer from BVB has given me a unique opportunity at my age to play in the Champions League and prove myself at the highest level.”
“I am happy about this opportunity and promise that I will give everything for the success of the team and the whole club!”
Club director and former player Sebastian Kehl spoke highly of the move for Modeste; a player that Dortmund had analyzed to suit boss Edin Terzic this campaign.
“After analyzing the previous season, we had made a conscious decision to sign a more classic push forward who would add a certain physicality, heading power, and goal threat to our offensive play.”
“Against the background of Sébastien Haller’s illness, we are glad that we were able to add such a striker to our squad at short notice with Anthony Modeste for the current season.”
“A professional who knows the Bundesliga very well, who scored 20 goals last season, and who, with his profile, can take on exactly the role that our coach Edin Terzic envisages for BVB football.” (quotes via BVB Newsblog)
