Turkish midfielder Nuri Şahin has made his huge career leap and signed a six-year contract to join Real Madrid from Bundesliga champion Borussia Dortmund.
The Spanish giant announced the deal on Monday on its website realmadrid.com.
“Bundesliga sensation to sign for Real Madrid,” the story said, adding he is “a talented, young midfielder” and having “a knack for distributing the ball as well as recovering it.”
“With a powerful left foot and an eye for ball placement, he is also a master at free-kicks,” it was said, “Şahin has wowed the world since the age of 16, when he became the youngest player to play and score in the Bundesliga.”
The German-born Şahin was one of the key players for Dortmund in the young team´s surge to the Bundesliga title this season, the Associated Press said.
Şahin will team up with Mesut Özil, another player of Turkish origins, but opted to play for Germany when it came to international selection, at Real. Mesut, just like Sami Khedira left the Bundesliga for the Spanish capital last year. He will reinforce a midfield that also includes Spanish international Xabi Alonso.
Madrid needs to beat Getafe on Tuesday to avoid Barcelona sealing its third consecutive league title.
Madrid ended a two-season trophy drought by winning the Copa del Rey in April, but was later ousted by Barcelona from the Champions League semifinals.
"This was a very, very difficult decision for me," Şahin said, adding that he would remain a fan and club member at Dortmund. "I like the club and the coach, and I feel comfortable in Dortmund, but Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world. Joining them means taking a great leap in my career."
“I am approaching this with great self-confidence and have matured into a player who can make it at Real."
Şahin made his league debut in 2005, when he became the youngest player to play and score in the Bundesliga, before spending the 2007-08 season on loan at Dutch club Feyenoord. He has 26 caps for Turkey and one goal, which made him the youngest goal scorer for the national team.
His contract at Dortmund had been due to expire in 2013. The club didn´t disclose the transfer fee.
The club insisted that coach Jürgen Klopp´s championship-winning side will otherwise stay together next season.
"Only in this case were our hands tied," sporting director Michael Zorc said.
Madrid ended a two-season trophy drought by winning the Copa del Rey in April, but was later ousted by Barcelona from the Champions League semifinals.
"It wasn´t an easy decision to leave Borussia.
"I didn´t choose Real Madrid for money. I chose it because it´s the greatest club in the world. It´s impossible to say no to its history and current project. Jose Mourinho convinced me immediately. We met here in Dortmund one day. He is one of the best coaches in the world and I´m dying to work with him. It will be a great challenge."
