After initially being rejected 6 months ago, Manchester City have finally completed the signing of Riyad Mahrez from Leicester city in a deal worth £60 million (€68m/$80m).
The former Premier League winner joins the current league winners on the back of a decent season with Leicester scoring 12 goals and laying on 10 assists for his teammates.
He signed a 5 year deal that will take him to age 32 at Manchester City.
Speaking of his delight at the move, Mahrez said on the City website: “I am so pleased to have joined City, a side playing great football under Pep Guardiola,”
“Watching them from afar has been a pleasure. Pep is committed to playing attacking football, which is a perfect for me, and City’s performances last season were outstanding. They’re redefining the English game and I wanted to be a part of it.
“I think we can be successful over the coming years and I believe my own game can develop under Pep’s management.”
The deal had been in the works for a while as Mahrez had handed in a transfer request to Leicester in January and Manchester City had bid for him, but a deal did not materialize. City went on to win the league with a 100 points and now have come back for Mahrez and have gotten their man.
Also commenting on the transfer, Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football said: “Riyad is a hugely talented player. He beats defenders and creates space,” he said. “Over the past few years, he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting players.
“We’re sure he will bring additional attacking quality to our squad.”
Mahrez was an instrumental part of Leicester’s surprise league title win scoring 17 goals and setting up a further 10 in that season. He will now compete for a place in the City squad along the likes of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.