Borussia Dortmund’s obligation to sign Yan Couto for £25million has been triggered – just two months after he joined on loan from Manchester City.
The Brazil international, who can play a variety of roles across the right flanks, has featured seven times for the Germans this term.
That’s more than the zero competitive outings he managed at City after agreeing a five-year contract in March 2020.
City fought off competition from European heavyweights such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich to lure Couto from Brazilian club Coritiba when he was just 17.
They had to wait until he was 18 for him to join due to transfer rules but after arriving in the summer of 2020, Couto was not given much of a chance.
Borussia Dortmund have triggered their £25million obligation to buy Yan Couto from Man City
Couto never managed a competitive minute at Man City after signing in the summer of 2020
The 22-year-old has been sent on three loans to LaLiga club Girona – also part of the City Football Group – and one to Portuguese side Braga.
Last season he was part of the Girona side that qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history by finishing third in LaLiga. He has also broken into the Brazil national team, earning four caps in the last two years, having won the U17s World Cup in 2019.
In the summer, Couto explained that his series of loans had always been part of the plan.
‘When I signed, I had meetings with Man City, they explained the project, that I would be loaned out.
‘There were clubs like Barcelona and Bayern, but I accepted because I was a member of Man City itself.
‘There are two methods: either go to the club or the group.
‘It wasn’t what I wanted for my career, but I accepted because I’d get minutes.
‘Start at the bottom, but play. I gained a lot of experience, every season 2,500, 3,000 minutes. I’ve improved a lot. Our relationship is very good.’
Couto, pictured with Endrick, has even earned four caps for Brazil but was only ever sent out on loan by City
At Dortmund, he has been filling his boots with action, starting and coming on as a sub in a mix of games.
He started in the 7-1 Champions League group stage victory over Celtic earlier this month, a match which will live long in the memory of both sets of fans.
