Premier League champions Manchester City have completed the signing of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig for $98.9m.
Gvardiol becomes the club’s second signing of the summer after Croatian international teammate Mateo Kovacic joined from Chelsea in June.
Welcome, Josko! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/h5twzhVNy1
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 5, 2023
Man City snap up highly-rated Josko Gvardiol
The highly-rated 21-year-old was one of the breakout stars of last year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar as the Croats reached the semi-final stage and claimed a bronze medal after a 2-1 victory over Morocco- a match in which Gvardiol scored his first-ever goal for his country.
After completing his medical yesterday, Gvardiol has put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the Cityzens. The Croat will wear the number 24 shirt once worn by fellow central defender John Stones.
Gvardiol has enjoyed two highly successful years at RB Leipzig since joining from hometown club Dinamo Zagreb and helped The Red Bulls win two consecutive DFB Pokal titles during his time in Eastern Germany. Despite signing in time to be available, it is unlikely Gvardiol will start for City on Sunday ahead of their Community Shield clash with Arsenal at Wembley.
Gvardiol scored against City in a Champions League round of 16 tie for Leipzig in February in a 1-1 draw en route to the Blue’s historic treble-winning campaign last season.
The Croatian’s arrival will likely mark the end of the road for fellow left-sided center-back Aymeric Laporte after five and a half years at the Etihad Stadium with Juventus linked with the Spanish international’s services.
