Real Madrid to sign Nuri Şahin from Dortmund

Real Madrid CF have begun to rebuild following their UEFA Champions League elimination by announcing a reported €10m deal with German champions Borussia Dortmund for Turkey midfield player Nuri Şahin.

The 22-year-old will sign a six-year deal at the Santiago Bernabéu and is coach José Mourinho's first reinforcement ahead of the 2011/12 campaign. He will become the first Turkish international to represent the Merengues.

The player said: "It was impossible to say no to this club and I look at the move as a jump forward in my career. I would only have left Dortmund for a team capable of winning many titles as is the case with Madrid. This has been a very difficult decision and one I have taken alongside the club – I'm leaving here feeling sad. I got on well with the coach and I like this city and the club but Madrid are one of the best teams in the world."

Nuri rose to prominence in 2005 when, at just 16 years and 335 days, he became the youngest player to appear in the German top flight. He went on to set the mark as the division's youngest scorer, records he also holds with Turkey. Born in Germany, the holding midfielder subsequently proved the star turn at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship that year as Turkey lifted the title in Italy.

Save for a year on loan at Feyenoord in 2007/08, Nuri has spent his entire career with Dortmund. He scored six goals in 30 games this term before a knee injury sustained in April ruled him out for the season as the club won the Bundesliga for the first time since 2002.

"I will miss the Bundesliga and my homeland. I would like to thank everyone who has accompanied me on this journey until now," added Nuri, who has been at the Westfalenstadion since he was 12.