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An old acquaintance. Despite speculation about various well-known players to replace Sébastien Haller, Borussia Dortmund ultimately decided to sign a forward with extensive experience in the Bundesliga. It is none other than Anthony Modeste, who until last season defended the shirt of Cologne, the team with which he scored 20 goals in 32 domestic league matches.
The transfer fee is still unknown, but according to German media, Borussia Dortmund acquired the services of the French forward for a total of 5 million euros (approximately $5.1 million), not a crazy figure considering that he is a 34-year-old player, but with a high scoring rate.
As you may recall, the 'Yellow Storm' was in search of a new striker for this season after Sébastien Haller was forced to stay away from the fields for an indefinite period. This came after being diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his testicles and undergoing surgery. Thus, his return to the pitch will have to wait several months.
More than one top-flight striker was considered for the position, such as Memphis Depay, Mauro Icardi, Edinson Cavani, and even Luis Suárez. However, Borussia Dortmund never reached an agreement with them and opted for the signing of Anthony Modeste.
"After analyzing last season, we made a conscious decision to sign a more classic forward who brings our offensive game power in the air and a goal threat," said Sebastian Kehl, sporting director of Borussia Dortmund.
"He is an experienced professional who knows the Bundesliga very well, scored 20 goals last season, and with his profile, he can assume exactly the role that our coach Edin Terzic expects from the club," he added.
Anthony Modeste made his professional debut in 2007 and since then has had a thriving career that has taken him to various parts of the world. He defended the shirts of Angers, Girondins de Bordeaux, Blackburn Rovers, Bastia, Hoffenheim, Tianjin Quanjian of China, Saint-Étienne, and Cologne.
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