Mateo Kovacic: Man City sign Croatia midfielder from Chelsea for initial £25m

Manchester City person signed Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for £25m positive add-ons.

Kovacic is City's archetypal signing of the summertime aft they won the Treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup titles past season.

"This is simply a superb determination for me," said Kovacic.

The caller enlistee is relishing the accidental to play for City caput manager Pep Guardiola.

"Anyone who has watched this squad nether Pep knows however bully they are - for me, they are the champion successful the world. The trophies they person won are wide for each to see, but they are besides the champion footballing broadside retired there," Kovacic said.

"To beryllium joining this squad truly is simply a imagination for immoderate footballer. I inactive person plentifulness of learning and processing to do, and I cognize nether Pep's absorption I tin go a amended player, which is truly breathtaking for me.

"My program present is to remainder for a fewer weeks earlier coming backmost to Manchester to hole for the caller season. I privation to assistance this nine enactment astatine the apical and triumph much trophies."

Kovacic joined Chelsea from Real Madrid successful August 2018, initially connected loan, earlier signing a five-year deal.

He made 37 appearances for the nine successful a turbulent run past play arsenic they finished 12th successful the apical flight.

Kovacic was portion of the Chelsea broadside who won the Champions League successful 2021, coming connected arsenic a precocious substitute successful the 1-0 last triumph implicit City.

At planetary level, Kovacic has made 95 appearances for Croatia, playing each crippled arsenic they finished 3rd astatine the 2022 World Cup.

"It was a precise elemental determination to bring him to City due to the fact that helium has the tactical and method qualities we are looking for successful a midfielder," said City manager of shot Txiki Begiristain.

"He is idiosyncratic we person monitored for a precise agelong clip and ever we were impressed whenever we watched him."

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