DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund finally completed the signing of Guinea forward Serhou Guirassy from Bundesliga rival Stuttgart on Thursday after an injury-related delay.
Guirassy’s expected transfer was delayed when a medical examination revealed an injury sustained while playing for Guinea at the end of last season.
Dortmund said on Thursday the injury will “not require an operation” and “medical personnel expect him to be available later in the summer.”
The 28-year-old Guirassy joins on a four-year deal and will add a new dimension to Dortmund’s attack after it reached the Champions League final.
Guirassy’s 28 Bundesliga goals last season were second only to Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and ensured plenty of interest in a player who reportedly had a release clause set well below his market value. Altogether, he scored 44 times in 58 games in two seasons for Stuttgart.
Guirassy is likely to compete with the tall Germany striker Niclas Füllkrug for a starting spot at Dortmund under new coach Nuri Sahin, who replaced Edin Terzic after the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid.
Guirassy also combined well in a forward partnership with Deniz Undav at Stuttgart last season, and helped Guinea reach the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
He is the second player Dortmund has signed from Stuttgart after Germany defender Waldemar Anton.
Stuttgart finished second in the Bundesliga, three places ahead of Dortmund, but has had to watch its key players snapped up by rivals and is facing a major rebuild ahead of a return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
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