Manchester City have announced the signing of Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig on a five-year deal. The 21-year-old becomes the second Croatian to join the Premier League champions this summer, after Mateo Kovacic.
Gvardiol, who has 21 caps for his country, is one of the most highly rated young centre-backs in Europe. He started his career at Dinamo Zagreb, where he won two league titles, one cup and one super cup. He then moved to RB Leipzig in 2021 and helped them win two DFB-Pokal trophies in two seasons. He also impressed in the 2022 World Cup, where Croatia finished third.
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City have reportedly paid €90m (£77.6m) for Gvardiol, making him the second most expensive defender in history, behind Harry Maguire. He will wear the number 24 shirt at the Etihad Stadium and compete with the likes of John Stones, Rúben Dias and Aymeric Laporte for a place in Pep Guardiola’s defence.
“Always dreamed of playing in England”
Gvardiol said he was delighted to join City and work with Guardiola, whom he described as “the best coach in football”. He also said he was looking forward to playing alongside Kovacic, his compatriot and friend.
“I have always dreamed of one day playing in England and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they have just had – is a real honour for me,” Gvardiol told the club’s official website.
“Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world. To win the Treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has.
“To be joining City is something very special for me and my family. To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing. I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain praised Gvardiol’s attributes and said he was confident he would continue to improve at City.
“He is a player we have watched closely, and we feel he has a superb set of attributes,” Begiristain said⁵.
“Top clubs all over Europe have been monitoring him, so to bring him here is great news for us.
“Josko has so many qualities – everything you want in a centre-half. He is fast, competitive, combative, strong in the air, impressive in possession of the ball, with strong self-belief and a good character. He is left-footed, too, which offers us good options at the back.
Gvardiol is City’s second signing of the summer transfer window, after Kovacic joined from Chelsea for £25m.
Gvardiol could make his debut for City in the Community Shield against Arsenal on August 6.
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