Borussia Dortmund seem to have put the wheels of squad rebuilding in motion already as the club is gearing up to announce their first signing of the summer.
According to both Sky Germany and Bild, Red Bull Salzburg defender Joane Gadou has arrived in Germany to complete a move to Dortmund.
The 19-year-old joins the side for a reported fee of €19 million with an additional €4.5 million in bonuses and will sign a contract until 2031.
Gadou arrives as the replacement for the outgoing Niklas Sule, who has announced his retirement from football at the end of the season.
He was all set to leave the club after Dortmund refused to extend his contract, with the player seemingly available on a Bosman.
But last week, Sule revealed he is going to hang up his boots at the age of 30, citing health concerns.
While Die Borussen still have one more game left before wrapping up the 2025-26 season, their plans for squad reinforcements is already underway with Gadou's arrival.
The player confirmed his departure from Salzburg in an emotional Instagram post published earlier this week:
"“I leave with strong memories, moments I will never forget, and above all, amazing people I had the chance to meet. Thank you to the coaches, the staff, my teammates, and everyone at the club who played a part, directly or indirectly, in my journey here.”"wrote Gadou
Born in France, the defender joined the PSG youth academy in 2020 and after four years there, signed for Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in 2024 for €10 million, a record sale for the Parisians for a player below 18 years of age.
Since then, he's made 57 appearances for the club in all competitions, including 11 in Europe this season as Gadou grew in influence on the side. He has also represented France at various youth levels and is currently with their under-19 side.
Gadou thanked Salzburg for all the 'advice' and experience he received at the club.
"“I’m grateful for every piece of advice, every moment shared, and every experience lived wearing these colors. A chapter is ending, but everything I learned here will stay with me for the rest of my career and my life. Thank you Salzburg.”"added the young gun
A right-footed centre-back, Gadou is tall and athletic as France's under-17 coach Jean-Luc Vannuchi described him as a force of nature who can combine power with speed while on the ball. He's also efficient in both penalty areas and possesses a wide passing range.
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