Pienaar's contract with Ajax runs out at the end of the season

German club Borussia Dortmund claim they have won the race to sign South Africa international Steven Pienaar.

The 23-year-old's contract with his Dutch team Ajax Amsterdam runs out at the end of the season.

But Dortmund insist he will sign a pre-contract agreement to join them before the 2006-07 campaign.

"He is coming to us in the summer in any case," Dortmund finance director Hans-Joachim Watzke told Kicker magazine.

English side Manchester City were also interested in Pienaar but the midfielder is expected to sign a three-year deal with Dortmund and link up with compatriot Delron Buckley.

Pienaar is seen as a replacement for Dortmund's Czech international playmaker Tomas Rosicky who has asked the club to let him leave.