have confirmed the signing of Mateo Kovacic from for a fee of £30million.
Kovacic has joined the treble winners on a four-year contract following months of speculation linking him with an exit from Stamford Bridge.
The midfielder’s deal with the Blues was set to expire in 2024 and with ’s side needing to raise funds they are more than content to sell off wantaway stars.
, , Kalidou Koulibaly, Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech are among those heavily linked with a move away.
Kovacic first joined Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018 and a year later the transfer was made permanent for around £40m after which he became one of the club’s most important players, making 221 appearances in total.
Prior to the move, the 29-year-old had won three consecutive Champions Leagues with Los Blancos and he continued to win silverware in England, lifting the UCL again as well as the Europa League and Club World Cup.
He also helped the Blues reach two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals, and the 95-capped Croatia international was also a key player for his country when they finished runner-up at the 2018 World Cup and third-place four years later.
At City, Kovacic will likely play in the role vacated by their .
Manchester City Director of Football Txiki Begiristain said: ‘Mateo is an excellent footballer.
‘He can play as a 6 or an 8, 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.
‘He is someone we have monitored for a very long time and always we were impressed whenever we watched him.
‘I am delighted he is here. This is a great signing for this club, and I am very excited to watch what he can do with Pep and the rest of our backroom team.’
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