Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 10y

Dortmund complete Immobile signing

Borussia Dortmund have announced the signing of Torino striker Ciro Immobile.

The 24-year-old Italy international, who will go to the World Cup this summer, put pen to paper on a five year deal on Monday, with the transfer fee reported to be close to 20 million euros.

While Borussia Dormund have lost the Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on a free transfer, the club have already been busy in the transfer market: Immobile is the third attacking player to join the Bundesliga runners-up with Colombia international Adrian Ramos arriving from Hertha BSC, and former Sunderland player Ji Dong-Won set to join the club on a free transfer from FC Augsburg.

"In Ciro Immobile we get a versatile and dynamic attacker, who has come out on top in one of the European top leagues. His outstanding qualities fit perfectly with the profile required by Borussia Dortmund," sporting director Michael Zorc was quoted as saying on the official homepage.

"Everything's perfect in my life right now," Immobile said in an official statement quoted by the local paper Ruhr Nachrichten. "I am very thankful for the chance handed to me by Borussia Dortmund. And I am aware of the responsibility that this move brings along.

"To replace an artist like Lewandowski is not a burden, but an incentive. My goal is to help the team capture the Bundesliga title again and to make it as far as possible in Champions League. In Dortmund, I have the opportunity to measure myself with the best players in the world."

Immobile had been co-owned by both Turin clubs -- Juventus and Torino -- for whom he scored 22 goals last season.

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