Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund have snapped up Australian teenager Mustafa Amini from the Central Coast Mariners.
The 18-year-old has been linked with a move to Europe for several months with Scottish giants Celtic said to have been battling Dortmund for his signature.
But it was the German club who won out, signing Amini for an undisclosed fee believed to be worth well in excess of the $135,000.
Amini will remain with the Mariners on a 12-month loan deal, allowing him to represent Australia at the Under 20 World Cup in Colombia before returning to Australia to play in the coming A-League season.
“I’d like to thank Peter Turnbull and Graham Arnold at the Mariners for working on this with Dortmund,” Amini said. “I’m really excited to be joining Dortmund, they’re a big club with amazing supporters.”
“It would be amazing (to play at Dortmunds 80,000 seat Signal Iduna Park), but first of all I want to have another great season with the Mariners, as well as a good Under 20 World Cup in Colombia.”
Mariners chairman Peter Turnball was pleased to secure a deal which was beneficial for everyone involved.
“I am pleased we have been able to secure a much improved deal for all parties, and thank Dortmund for their consideration of our requests,” Turnball said.
“We now have a deal that satisfies everyone. Musti’s international future, the clubs needs and more importantly, the fans.”
“They will now be able to see Musti play out the balance of his original contract plus the Asian Champions League group stage.”
Amini made 23 appearances for Central Coast in his debut season last term, and has been capped by Australia at Under 17, Under 20 and Under 23 level.
