Manchester City has secured the services of Mateo Kovacic, the Croatian midfielder from Chelsea, following the departure of their captain, Ilkay Gundogan.
The treble-winning club revealed that the 29-year-old has inked a four-year deal, with an initial fee of £25 million ($32 million) and the potential for £5 million in add-ons, per the reports.
Kovacic, who had spent five successful years at Chelsea, clinching the Champions League and Europa League titles and making 221 appearances, is now joining the ranks of Pep Guardiola’s team. His arrival fills the void left by Gundogan, who recently moved to Barcelona on a free transfer after a seven-year stint at Manchester City.
Read also: How Chelsea Could Line Up Next Season With Moises Caicedo.
Expressing his excitement about the move, Kovacic stated, “This is a brilliant move for me and I cannot wait to get started with City. Anyone who has watched this team under Pep knows how good they are. For me, they are the best in the world. The trophies they have won are clear for all to see, but they are also the best footballing side out there.”
Having won the prestigious Champions League four times, including three victories with Real Madrid before joining Chelsea, Kovacic brings a wealth of experience to the Manchester City squad. The midfielder, who began his career at Dinamo Zagreb and had a spell at Inter Milan, has represented his country in 95 international matches.
Txiki Begiristain, the director of football at Manchester City, praised Kovacic’s versatility, stating, “He can play as a ‘six’ or an ‘eight’, has plenty of experience at top-level clubs, and he understands the Premier League. It was a very simple decision to bring him to City because he has the tactical and technical qualities we are looking for in a midfielder.”
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