Manchester City signs Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol from Leipzig

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City signed Croatia centre-back Joško Gvardiol from Leipzig for 90 million euros ($99.2 million) on Saturday, rating him among the many most costly defenders in soccer historical past.

The 21-year-old Gvardiol, generally known as “Little Pep” due to his identify’s likeness to City supervisor Pep Guardiola, is without doubt one of the most extremely rated defenders on the earth and enhanced his repute with spectacular performances for Croatia on the World Cup final yr.

He signed a five-year contract with City, which received a treble of trophies final season: the Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup.

“Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world,” Gvardiol mentioned. “To win the treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has. To be joining City is something very special for me and my family.”

At Leipzig, Gvardiol received the German Cup in back-to-back seasons and performed within the Champions League.

The switch payment places him among the many likes of Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, who value 80 million kilos (then $97 million) when he joined from Leicester in 2019, and Virgil van Dijk, who moved from Southampton to Liverpool for 75 million kilos (then $100 million) in 2018.

“He is a player we have watched closely, and we feel he has a superb set of attributes,” City director of soccer Txiki Begiristain mentioned. “Top golf equipment throughout Europe have been monitoring him, so to deliver him right here is nice news for us.

“Josko has so many qualities — everything you want in a centre-half. He is fast, competitive, combative, strong in the air, impressive in possession of the ball, with strong self-belief and a good character. He is left-footed, too, which offers us good options at the back.”

Gvardiol would doubtless play on the left facet of City’s again three, if Guardiola persists with the 3-2-4-1 formation he deployed within the second half of final season.

City additionally has Nathan Ake for that position in a formation that primarily sees the workforce play a protection stuffed with middle backs and dispense with full backs.

“To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing for me,” Gvardiol mentioned. “I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.”

Gvardiol is City’s second signing of the offseason, after Croatia teammate Mateo Kovacic, who changed Ilkay Gundogan within the squad. Gundogan, City’s captain final season, has joined Barcelona, and winger Riyad Mahrez moved to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.

Leipzig can be shedding a 3rd key participant this offseason, having bought playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool and ahead Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea. Highly rated younger Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško is becoming a member of Leipzig for the brand new season.