Dortmund signs Leverkusen midfielder Castro

Leverkusen's Gonzalo Castro, right, signed a four-year contract with Dortmund. (Frank Augstein/AP)

DORTMUND, Germany — Borussia Dortmund has signed midfielder Gonzalo Castro from Bundesliga rival Bayer Leverkusen on a four-year contract.

Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc calls the 27-year-old Castro "an experienced, technically skilled midfielder who can play in different positions."

Castro, who has five appearances for Germany, scored 25 goals and set up 57 more in 286 Bundesliga games for Leverkusen, which he joined in 1999.

Dortmund did not disclose a transfer fee but German media reports suggest the club is paying a release clause of around 11 million euros ($12.1 million) for the player. His contract with Leverkusen was due to expire in 2016.

Castro will be expected to cover for the expected departure of Ilkay Gundogan from Dortmund.

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