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German midfielder Ilkay Guendogan has joined Manchester City from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal, the Premier League club announced yesterday.
The 25-year-old, who had a year remaining on his Dortmund contract, is the club’s first signing since they confirmed Spanish coach Pep Guardiola would take over at the Etihad from Manuel Pellegrini prior to the start of next season.
City did not disclose financial details of the deal but British media reported that Guendogan would cost the Premier League club around 20 million pounds ($29 million).
“I’m thrilled to have signed for Manchester City,” Guendogan said in a statement on City’s website (www.mcfc.co.uk).
“The opportunity to work with a coach like Pep Guardiola is something I am really looking forward to and I am flattered to be the first signing the club has made this summer.”
The injury-prone German international dislocated a kneecap in training in May, ruling him out of the 2016 European Championships in France.
Guendogan, who also missed the 2014 World Cup with a back injury, made more than 150 appearances in five years at Dortmund after being recruited by Juergen Klopp, who is now in charge of Liverpool.
The midfielder was part of Klopp’s Dortmund side that won a domestic double in Germany in the 2011-12 season and reached the Champions League final in 2013, where they lost to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.
“We celebrated many victories and stood together in moments of defeats,” Guendogan said in a farewell note to Dortmund posted on his official Twitter page.
“I am very thankful to all my team mates and to the fans who always supported me.”
Di Matteo to take over at Aston Villa
Aston Villa have appointed former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo as their new manager, the BBC reported yesterday.
Di Matteo, 46, a former Italy midfielder who also managed West Bromwich Albion and Schalke, replaces Remi Garde, who was sacked by Villa in March before they were relegated from the Premier League.
His former Chelsea teammate, Steve Clarke, who was also an assistant manager at the London club, will be his new assistant, the BBC said.
Di Matteo, who won the Champions League as Chelsea manager in 2012, is expected to have his appointment confirmed by the club when new owner Tony Xia formally takes charge following approval by the Premier League and Football League.
There are no comments.
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