Borussia Dortmund announced not only the appointment of manager Thomas Tuchel's successor this week but also two of their four signings. On Wednesday, the club unveiled their latest addition, SC Freiburg attacker Maximilian Philipp, who transfers from the Black Forest to Westphalia for a reported fee ranging between €14 million and €20 million, including bonuses.
The 23-year-old signed a five-year deal, joining 27-year-old centre-back Omer Toprak, 21-year-old central midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud and 18-year-old centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou on the list of Dortmund's summer arrivals.
Here are five things you should know about Philipp.
1. Sought-after Bundesliga player
BVB can't resist pointing out that the young players they've signed were sought-after targets. "We're happy to have won the signature of a player who was highly sought after in Germany and abroad," sporting director Michael Zorc said, according to a club press release. Clubs such as RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur were reportedly interested in a transfer as well.
Although Philipp isn't quite at the level of "Europe's hottest talent" -- players such as Ousmane Dembele, Christian Pulisic, Emre Mor and Zagadou -- it is still important for the club to know that transfer targets won't snub them for fear of not getting a chance to play, especially when a direct competitor such as Leipzig is involved. After all, for every Julian Weigl, there has been an Adnan Januzaj.
2. Ready for the next step
"I can't say yet if I can see myself making the next step, or whether I stay in Freiburg for another year," Philipp told Sky Sport in an interview last week, alluding to a familial setting and good surroundings in southwest Germany.
Now the German youth international has made up his mind. "When BVB come knocking on your door, you cannot say no," he said via a press release. "I think that at the age of 23 years I'm mature and old enough take the next step. I want to develop as a player."
Philipp is the third player since 2014 to transfer from Freiburg to Dortmund, following Matthias Ginter and Roman Burki. The Bundesliga minnows, who are operating on a relatively small budget, are renowned for their excellent youth development. Philipp is another pristine example of that.
He joined SCF's under-19 from Cottbus in 2013 and made his way up through the under-23 side before eventually being implemented in the senior team in 2014. Under manager Christian Streich, Philipp has become a regular starter the past two seasons, and arrives in Dortmund with 80 appearances between 1. Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.
3. Equal-footed attacking all-rounder
A big reason Dortmund signed the attacking midfielder -- who has racked up 18 goals and 23 assists over 88 matches across all competitions for the senior team -- is his versatility. Having no weaker foot, Streich was not afraid to play Philipp at every position in Freiburg's attack in the last campaign. He combines a generous work rate, creative vision and finishing skills with the defensive smarts that are required to know when a tactical foul can avoid a dangerous counterattack -- qualities that should help him gain first-team minutes in Dortmund, when BVB's starting players are out due to injury or need a rest.
4. Philipp joins as Marco Reus' replacement
Although Philipp is a bit bulkier than Dortmund star Marco Reus, one could easily confuse the two attackers on the field. Like Reus, the arriving youngster is very direct in his game. The way Philipp often turns immediately toward goal after receiving the ball and starts running is just like Reus. And then there are the sidesteps Philipp takes in his dribbling that Dortmund fans are accustomed to from their injury-prone darling. Reus is facing several months out of action after suffering a partial cruciate ligament tear during Dortmund's win in the DFB Pokal final over Eintracht Frankfurt, and the club needed to find a replacement to ensure the necessary squad depth.
5. German international in the making
A move to Dortmund will obviously catch the attention of national team coach Joachim Low. Philipp does not quite warrant a call-up to the A-team just yet, but he has caught the eye of the DFB's youth coaches, making his debut for Germany's under-20 team in 2014. Before joining his new club at the Westfalenstadion, the 23-year-old will feature in Germany's under-21 team at the Euros in Poland, where he will team up with BVB-bound Dahoud. It's still a long way to the German national team, but players such as Andre Schurrle have to be on their toes with another young talent around determined to prove himself.