Manchester City have announced the signing of defender Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia on a five-year contract.
The 27-year-old, who had been strongly linked with a €45million move to the Etihad Stadium since the weekend, has signed a five-year contract with the Barclays Premier League club.
Otamendi will bolster central defensive ranks at City that include two familiar faces in former Porto team-mate Eliaquim Mangala and international colleague Martin Demichelis, as well as captain Vincent Kompany.
The Copa America finalist this summer had also been heavily linked to a move to City’s rivals Manchester United.
“Recognised as one of the continent’s best central defenders, Otamendi leaves Valencia where his performances earned him a place in La Liga’s 2014-15 Team of the Season,” City said on their club website.
“The Argentine international follows Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph to the Etihad Stadium and will wear the number 30 shirt,” they added.
Otamendi himself said: “I am here to give my best, to fight game by game and push City to the highest peaks for as long as possible, and I wish we will be able to win several cups and titles.
“That’s most important. To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream.”
No financial details of the deal have been revealed but it is thought Valencia were hoping to use the sale to write off part of the fee they still owe City for striker Alvaro Negredo.
