Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has joined Manchester City from Barcelona on a five-year deal, the English Premier League club announced Friday
The 28-year-old finalised the details of his move to Eastlands this week after the Ivory Coast were knocked out of the World Cup.
It means Toure will join brother Kolo, City’s captain, at the north-west side who earlier this week signed David Silva from Valencia.
“This is another fantastic signing for Manchester City, and I am very pleased Yaya has joined us, he is a very good player,” manager Roberto Mancini told the club’s website, www.mcfc.co.uk.
“Everyone knows Yaya is a player that we have admired for a long time, and we would like to welcome him to Manchester City,” the Italian added.
“He has played at the top level with Barcelona and I am sure his experience and ability will be very important for us.”
Mancini has been handed a large transfer kitty by the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners despite City’s failure to qualify for the Champions League last season.
A fee for Yaya Toure’s transfer has not been disclosed but reports this week suggested the deal could be worth 28 million pounds.
That would take the pre-season spending of the ambitious club to beyond 60 million pounds, with Jerome Boateng previously signed for 10.5million pounds from Hamburg.
Toure spent three years with Barcelona, winning two Spanish titles and the Champions League in 2009.
He is expected to join up with his new team-mates for their pre-season tour to the United States later this month.
