Soccer

Manchester City complete five-year €69m deal for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling

England international winger who is set to earn €280k per week will join City for Australia tour

New Manchester City signing Raheem Sterling leaves the club’s Etihad Stadium after becoming the most expensive English player in history with his £49 million (€69 million) transfer from Liverpool. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters
New Manchester City signing Raheem Sterling leaves the club’s Etihad Stadium after becoming the most expensive English player in history with his £49 million (€69 million) transfer from Liverpool. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters
Tue Jul 14 2015 - 17:30

Raheem Sterling has signed for Manchester City from Liverpool on a five-year contract for £49 million (€69.35 million). Sterling will now join Manuel Pellegrini's squad on the pre-season tour to Australia.

Sterling, who will wear the No 7 shirt, underwent the necessary medical checks on Tuesday after an agreement between Liverpool and Manchester City was struck on Sunday afternoon on a deal which will cost City an initial€62 million, with a further €7 million due in add-ons.

A five-term contract worth around €280,000 a week had already been agreed.

Pellegrini said: “Raheem Sterling is one of the best attacking players in world football, and I am very much looking forward to him joining our squad out in Australia later this week.

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“He is a young player with outstanding ability, and I am sure the Manchester City fans will be very excited about seeing him in action for the team.”

Brendan Rodgers, speaking upon arriving in Thailand on Monday for Liverpool's pre-season tour, confirmed that Sterling would complete his move to Manchester City once he had undergone a medical.

“I spoke to Raheem at length yesterday, there is no issue. Two clubs have agreed a deal and subject to a medical he will move on,” Rodgers said.

“It’s important for us to improve and build the squad for this season coming. We are pleased with the players we have brought in. It’s the overall team that is important. We aim to be stronger than last season that will be reliant on everyone.”

The imminent conclusion of the deal ends one of the more drawn out transfer stories of the summer after City had two previous bids knocked back. Liverpool had wanted to keep hold of the England international but the club’s relationship with the 20-year-old winger deteriorated to such an extent that a transfer was inevitable.

“The situation is very simple. The club has agreed with another for a deal for Raheem to be transferred and subject to medical that will go through,” added Rodgers on Monday. “Contrary to the last week or so, in terms of what was written, Raheem and I have always remained very strong in our relationship, and have been up until he left. There’s no issue there.”

(Guardian service)