Official: BVB sign Manuel Akanji

Borussia Dortmund have officially signed Manuel Akanji. The 22-year-old centerback played the last couple years for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League, winning the league title twice and the Swiss Cup one. While the transfer fee has not been made public it is rumored to be around 21.5€ million.

The Swiss international (4 games for Switzerland) has played 28 games so far this season for Basel scoring 2 goals and adding 2 assists. The young central defender especially impressed in this year’s Champions League campaign against the likes of Manchester United.

Akanji is a relatively tall defender at 6’2’’ (1.87cm), impresses with his speed and ability to defend strikers one-on-one. He can also be an asset when Dortmund have possession of the ball, he has shown he can play long and accurate passes out of the defense and he is rarely fazed when pressed high by opponents because of his ability to pass with both feet. At 22 years of age he is relatively young and can still grow as a player, while not being polished yet in most areas of the game he does have the raw potential to develop into a world class defender for the black and yellows.

Welcome Manuel Akanji!