Central Coast young gun Mustafa Amini has secured a move to German giants Borussia Dortmund but will remain with the Mariners on loan for the coming A-League season.
In an outcome described by the Mariners as “win-win for all parties”, the 18-year-old midfielder was on Monday transferred to the reigning German champions and instantly loaned back to the Gosford club.
It brought an end to lengthy negotiations, after the Mariners reportedly rejected a transfer offer of $135,000 earlier this year after Amini trained with the club in Germany.
The new transfer fee was not disclosed but is believed to be well in excess of the initial offer.
Amini said he was excited about joining the German club and welcomed the chance to spend another season under Graham Arnold at the Mariners.
“I’m really excited to be joining Dortmund, they’re a big club with amazing supporters,” Amini said.
“… But first of all I want to have another great season with the Mariners, as well as a good Under 20s World Cup in Colombia.”
Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull thanked Dortmund after nutting out a “much-improved” deal.
“We now have a deal that satisfies everyone, Musti’s international future, the club’s needs and more importantly, the fans,” he said.
“They will now be able to see Musti play out the balance of his original contract plus the Asian Champions League group stage.”
Amini will link up with fellow Australian young-gun Mitchell Langerak at Dortmund after the goalkeeper moved from Melbourne Victory last year.
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