-Ikenna Okafor
Manchester City have confirmed the £45million signing of Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United on a six-year deal.The midfielder is the third arrival at the Etihad this summer after Erling Haaland‘s £51million move from Borussia Dortmund and the free transfer of goalkeeper Stefan Ortega as Pep Guardiola brings in reinforcements ahead of City’s Premier League title defence.
The 26-year-old will wear the No 4 shirt at the Etihad following his move after eight seasons with boyhood club Leeds United.
‘I am absolutely delighted to have joined Manchester City,’ Phillips said.
‘City have again proved to be the best team in the country with an amazing squad and a manager in Pep Guardiola who is rightly considered to be the finest in the world.
‘To be able to play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching staff as well as be part of such a fantastic squad is a prospect that I am incredibly excited about.
‘City are a world-class club with world-class staff and facilities and it’s a dream come true to have joined the club.
‘Now I can’t wait to get started and to look to try and help the team to go on and achieve more success.’
The top-flight champions reportedly agreed a fee of £42m plus a further £3m in add-ons with Leeds in June but the player’s holiday delayed the transfer.
The England international underwent a medical at the club last week as he donned a City jacket for the occasion.
It was reported that talks were expected to take place following England’s Nations League fixtures and negotiations accelerated after Phillips changed agents.
Gabriel Jesus’s £45m departure from City to join Arsenal on a five-year deal was also confirmed on Monday.
Man City captures £45m Phillips