Manchester City signs Belgium winger Jeremy Doku for $70M

Manchester City strengthened its attacking choices by signing Belgium winger Jeremy Doku from French membership Rennes for 65 million euros ($70 million) on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Doku, who has agreed to a five-year deal, turned the English and European champions’ third signing of the summer time switch window after defender Josko Gvardiol and midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

“Manchester City are the best team in world football, so to be joining them is something very special for me and my family,” Doku stated. “I am a young player with so much learning and improving to do. Working with Pep (Guardiola) and his staff, and playing alongside these world-class players, will make me a much better player. I feel sure of that.”

Doku is a like-for-like alternative for Riyad Mahrez, who was offered to Saudi Arabian workforce Al-Ahli final month.

The departure of Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan, who left on a free switch and joined Barcelona, eliminated two of City’s most prolific scorers behind Erling Haaland whereas playmaker Kevin De Bruyne — Doku’s teammate for Belgium — would possibly miss the remainder of 2023 due to a hamstring damage.

City has additionally been linked with signing one other central attacking midfielder within the closing days of the switch window.

Doku is a quick and skillful winger who has performed for Rennes since 2020, when he joined from Anderlecht, and is considered a extremely proficient if inconsistent participant. He can play on each wings and would possibly find yourself being an impression substitute, a task he sometimes has with Belgium’s nationwide workforce.

He performed on the European Championship in 2021 and ultimately 12 months’s World Cup in Qatar.

“In terms of raw attributes, he has everything a winger needs. He has outstanding pace and he is exceptional in one-on-one situations,” City director of soccer Txiki Begiristain stated of Doku. “I honestly believe working with Pep and the technical staff here at City will see him develop into a world-class attacking talent.”