Man City Completes Mangala Deal

Manchester City have completed the long-pending signing of Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala.

The Frenchman, who has been on Manuel Pellegrini’s target list since January and was last month pictured signing a contract in a video- now removed- on the club’s website, has penned a five-year contract.

The 23-year-old becomes the Premier League champions’ sixth signing this summer, following the arrival of goalkeeper Willy Cabalero from Malaga for £4.4m, ex-Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna, Mangala’s Porto team-mate Fernando for £12m, Frank Lampard (on a six-month loan) and Bruno Zuculini from Racing club.

“I want to win titles and I believe I can do this,” Mangala told the club’s official website. “I am ambitious and this is why I am here. I’m very happy to come to England because for me, the Premier League is the best league in the world.

“The fact that Fernando is here is better because I played with him at Porto but there are also other players that I know like Sagna, (Gael) Clichy and (Samir) Nasri.”

Eliaquim Mangala Joins Manchester City from Porto.
Eliaquim Mangala Joins Manchester City from Porto.

City are yet to release details of the transfer, which reportedly cost them £32m.

Mangala made his international debut in June last year and was listed in coach Didier Deschamp’s World Cup squad but did not make any appearance in Brazil.

He began his career with Standard Liege in 2008, winning the league in his first season, before joining the Portuguese club.

He won two Portuguese League titles with the 2004 European champions.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “I am delighted to have added a player of Eliaquim’s quality in the squad ahead of the new season. He is already a fine player but in my opinion, he has all of the mental, physical, technical and tactical attributes to become one of Europe’s very best defenders.

“Eliaquim is a player I believe will make an immediate impact in the Premier League, thanks to his physicality, his reading of the game and quality on the ball. I think he will prove to be a great signing for us.”