Boca Juniors have been fending off interest in Leonardo Balerdi since before the 19-year-old made his senior debut but having played only 450 minutes for the first team, Borussia Dortmund have seen enough to part with €16 million for the talented central defender.
With five appearances for Boca under his belt since a debut against Huracán in August last year, Balerdi played a bit part under Guillermo Barros Schelotto but rarely put a foot wrong when called upon and had already attracted European interest from his exploits within the club’s youth system and with Argentina.
Dortmund were among those paying close attention and ahead of the Argentina under-20s competing in the Sudamericano this month, the Bundesliga leaders moved swiftly.
“The signing of Leonardo Balerdi was a perspective transfer that was originally planned for the coming summer but has now been brought forward,” Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc told the club’s official website.
Welcome Leonardo Balerdi ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/my5txp5R4f
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 14, 2019