BARBAREZ ENDS SPECULATION

The 28-year-old forward was contracted to Dortmund until 2001 but received an offer they could not refuse from the Champions League candidates although the transfer fee was not disclosed, although a sum of 4 million Marks (£1.33 million) would not be too far from the truth.

Barbarez had received a promise during the spring that he would be allowed to move for 3.5 million marks and Michael Zorc, Dortmund manager, felt he was not bound to this promise this week.  But he revealed: "HSV increased the offer slightly.  Then we agreed."

After two unsatisfactory years in Westphailia, Barbarez wanted to leave Dortmund and will become Hamburg's tenth new signing so far.  Holger Hieronymus, the HSV coach said: "After the intensive negotiations I am naturally pleased about the fact the we have finished the deal.  Sergej is a man who can help us."