Bayer Leverkusen have agreed a deal to buy Germany under-19 captain Jonathan Tah from Hamburg.
Hamburg have reluctantly decided to part with the 19-year-old centre back, who spent last year on loan at 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf.
The Hamburg native will cost Leverkusen under €10 million, excluding performance-related bonuses, according to kicker.
"We wanted to keep Jonathan Tah," Hamburg sport director Dietmar Beiersdorfer told the club's official website.
"[Hamburg coach] Bruno Labbadia made it clear several times that he wanted to work with him here at HSV and to further develop him."
"Wir haben uns für einen Verkauf von Jonathan Tah entschieden" #Beiersdorfer bezieht Stellung: http://t.co/eLykYMQ95n pic.twitter.com/tsOjicXaN4
- Hamburger SV (@HSV) July 14, 2015
However, Beiersdorfer said Tah and his management team had been persistent about seeking a change of direction.
"Before leaving for the European under-19 Championships in Greece, Jonathan told me that he saw his future in Leverkusen and absolutely wanted to go there," Beiersdorfer added.
The news that a deal is set to be completed will come as a boost to Tah in the week when his Germany under-19 side missed out on making the European Championship semifinals on goal difference.