Manuel Akanji joins Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund

Manchester City have announced their fifth summer signing after completing the £15million capture of Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund.

The 27-year-old Switzerland international has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium and will provide cover in Pep Guardiola’s back four.

Sportsmail understands a deal for Akanji – who becomes the second player after Erling Haaland to make the move from the Bundesliga giants to the Premier League champions this summer – could reach £20m with additional clauses.

Akanji – who made 158 appearances for Dortmund in all competitions – will wear the No 25 shirt.
‘I am delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started,’ Akanji said.

City have been one of the best teams in Europe over the last few seasons. They are brilliant to watch, play an exciting brand of football and compete for trophies year in, year out, so coming here feels like the perfect next step in my career.

‘Pep Guardiola is an exceptional manager and this is an exceptional squad of players, so this is an exciting opportunity for me.

‘It was a bit unexpected in the last stage of the transfer market, but I had no doubts about moving. I’m here to prove myself. I want to show everyone that they were right in choosing me.’

‘I am really looking forward to testing myself in the Premier League and I will do everything I can to help this Club be successful.’

Akanji – who made 158 appearances for Dortmund across all competitions after joining from Swiss side Basel four years ago – will wear the No 25 shirt.

City’s director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: ‘Manuel has plenty of experience playing at the top level of European football and we are confident he will be a valuable addition to our squad.

‘We have been impressed with his performances during his time at Dortmund, where he has developed into a very good defender and one who is ready to perform in both the Premier League and Champions League.

‘He has everything we want in a centre-back. He is strong, quick, comfortable in possession, has an excellent passing range and he will complement the other defenders in this team and our style of play.’

Akanji will be the fifth senior central defender at Guardiola’s disposal, with the manager usually preferring to coach a smaller pool of players. It suggests that Nathan Ake is more likely to be utilised as a left-back over the coming months.

Aymeric Laporte is rehabilitating from a knee injury, with John Stones starting alongside Ruben Dias in the absence of Ake during Wednesday’s 6-0 win against Nottingham Forest.

Academy product Luke Mbete has been fifth-choice at centre half but is expected to join Championship side Huddersfield Town before the window slams shut.